Supporting flood recovery in rural areas through health data and knowledge sharing
Official title: Supporting flood recovery in rural, mountainous areas through health systems knowledge exchange and fine-scale healthcare utilization data analysis
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11552958 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at people in rural Appalachian regions affected by inland flooding, this project will use health data and rapid information sharing to inform recovery and future planning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $712,025 |
| NIH project number | 4R33NR021961-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11552958 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals living in rural Appalachian counties affected by inland flooding and experiencing health access barriers or pregnancy and mental health concerns.
✕Less likely to help
People in regions not impacted by flooding or without related healthcare access challenges may see limited or no direct benefit.
What this research studies
In rural Appalachian communities hit by inland flooding, this project will collect time-sensitive health data from healthcare providers, local agencies, recovery groups, and schools to understand barriers to care and health needs. The team will rapidly gather information to map how flooding affects pregnancy, mental health, and access to obstetric and other essential services, guiding resource allocation. Through analyzing fine-scale healthcare utilization and sharing lessons with health systems, the project aims to improve preparedness and response for future floods. The research will occur in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee with close collaboration from local partners to ensure data is relevant and timely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve flood response planning, healthcare accessibility, and resource distribution for pregnant people and mental health in rural regions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that disasters can worsen pregnancy outcomes and mental health, but this project focuses on rapid data collection in rural, resource-poor areas to inform recovery.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gohlke, Julia M — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Gohlke, Julia M
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.