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Convergence of multiple exposures during pregnancy: Effect of wildfires and maternal stressors on birth outcomes among Alaskan women

Award Number: K01MD016923
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/19/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2026

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Convergence of multiple exposures during pregnancy: Effect of wildfires and maternal stressors on birth outcomes among Alaskan women - PROJECT SUMMARY (ABSTRACT) The research objective of this K01 is to understand how wildfire smoke (WFS) exposure and other maternal stressors converge and contribute to preterm birth differentially across socio-demographic groups. Prematurity is a major determinant of newborn death and disability. There are substantial disparities in the U.S. where the rate of preterm births among American Indian/Alaska Native women is 26% higher than the rate among all U.S. mothers. The research will consist of three Specific Aims. (Aim 1): Evaluate the association between exposure of pregnant women in Alaska to WFS and preterm birth. We hypothesize that maternal WFS exposure is associated with adverse birth outcomes, particularly when exposed at critical developmental windows during gestation. We will develop a historical, spatially explicit WFS layer using the NOAA HYSPLIT model. We will combine model output with Alaskan birth records from 2000-2020 (n=220,000) to estimate associations between WFS exposure and birth outcomes, controlling for maternal smoking, age, parity, and pre-pregnancy co- morbidities. (Aim 2): Assess effect modification of the relationship between WFS exposure and adverse birth outcomes by maternal characteristics, access to healthcare, and geographic remoteness. We will utilize information from birth records to conduct stratified analyses. We hypothesize that maternal socio-demographic characteristics modify the relation between WFS exposure and birth outcomes. (Aim 3): Test the combined effect of stressful life events during pregnancy and WFS exposure on preterm birth. Using a subset of our sample included in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), we will include measures of stress by domain (e.g. financial, relationship) and number of stressful life events as interaction variables with WFS exposure. The candidate is a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Alaska-Anchorage with training in epidemiology, biostatistics, ecology methods, and GIS. Her short-term career goals are to expand her research on wildfire epidemiology, and to develop a research program to understand how health disparities in Alaska contribute to the health impacts of climate change. Her long-term career goal is to lead an applied research group that conducts rigorous, community-responsive research. This career award will support her training in health disparities and mixed methods research, qualitative analysis, advanced statistical methods, and integration of health equity into adaptation planning. Her department/mentor team have expertise in environmental epidemiology, biostatistics, air quality modeling, and translational research, and her campus offers many opportunities to support junior faculty. These experiences and resources will support the work proposed here, as well as future interdisciplinary research on environmental justice issues. This proposal supports the NIMHD mission to improve minority health and reduce health disparities by strengthening rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods to enable analysis on small populations and developing methodologies for incorporating and using geographic identifiers in health disparities research to promote place-based research.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $142,875 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE	3211 PROVIDENCE DR	ANCHORAGE	AK	99508	ANCHORAGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	4	4/4/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$15,387
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE	3211 PROVIDENCE DR	ANCHORAGE	AK	99508	ANCHORAGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	4	11/26/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$127,488
														Subtotal = $142,875

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $86,748 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE	3211 PROVIDENCE DR	ANCHORAGE	AK	99508	ANCHORAGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	3	5/23/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$15,374
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE	3211 PROVIDENCE DR	ANCHORAGE	AK	99508	ANCHORAGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	3	11/12/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$71,374
														Subtotal = $86,748

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $153,668 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE	3211 PROVIDENCE DR	ANCHORAGE	AK	99508	ANCHORAGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	2	11/9/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$138,301
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE	3211 PROVIDENCE DR	ANCHORAGE	AK	99508	ANCHORAGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	2	1/27/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$15,367
														Subtotal = $153,668

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $154,100 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE	3211 PROVIDENCE DR	ANCHORAGE	AK	99508	ANCHORAGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	1	1/19/2022	NEW	$154,100
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE	3211 PROVIDENCE DR	ANCHORAGE	AK	99508	ANCHORAGE	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	1	9/19/2022	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $154,100

Grand Total All Awards = $537,391

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Convergence of multiple exposures during pregnancy: Effect of wildfires and maternal stressors on birth outcomes among Alaskan women

Award Number: K01MD016923

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/19/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2026

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