Reducing harm from extreme heat in vulnerable San Diego and Imperial Valley neighborhoods
DP24-004, PRC CORE: SDSU Prevention Research Center
A community-led program to bring proven heat-safety actions and cooling support to people most at risk from extreme heat in San Diego County and Imperial Valley.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136825 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This center grant partners San Diego State researchers with local communities to adapt and deliver heat-safety interventions where residents face the greatest risk. Team members will use community-based participatory methods so residents and local groups help design outreach, cooling strategies, and UV/heat education. The project will adapt the EPA Phoenix Heat Action Planning Guide for use in rural, historically disinvested agricultural neighborhoods in the Imperial Valley and implement those plans while monitoring uptake and barriers using implementation science. The focus is on reducing UV overexposure and heat-related illness through sustainable, locally owned interventions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents, workers, and community organizations in disproportionately impacted neighborhoods of San Diego County and the Imperial Valley, especially older adults, outdoor workers, and people with chronic health conditions.
Not a fit: People who live outside the targeted San Diego and Imperial Valley communities or who are not exposed to extreme heat are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower heat-related illness and improve community readiness and resources during extreme heat events.
How similar studies have performed: Heat action plans and similar community programs have reduced harm in urban settings before, but adapting and implementing these tools in rural agricultural and historically disinvested communities is more novel.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- San Diego State University — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oren, Eyal — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Oren, Eyal
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.