Maternal and Infant Environmental Health Riskscape Research Center

The National Institutes of Health funded the Maternal and Infant Environmental Health Riskscape (MIEHR) Research Center in summer 2020. The center, a joint initiative of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Southern University, is a Center of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities, one of only three sites in the country selected by the National Institute on Minority and Health Disparities.

The goal of the center is to identify key drivers of racial disparities in pregnancy outcomes, such a preterm birth and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

The center studies study chemical and non-chemical exposures at the individual and neighborhood level from the biological, physical and social environments – collectively referred to as the riskscape – that affect maternal and infant health.

Elaine Symanski, Ph.D., MIEHR Director
Professor
Center for Precision Environmental Health
Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences
Department of Medicine
Faculty Profile    

Robert Bullard, Ph.D., MIEHR Co-Director
Professor
Department of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy
Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
Texas Southern University
Facuty Profile

Kjersti Aagaard, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Vice Chair of Research
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Faculty Profile

Cristian Coarfa, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Baylor College of Medicine
Faculty Profile

Toi Harris, M.D.
Associate Provost of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and Student Services
Professor
Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
Faculty Profile

Denae King, Ph.D.
Research Program Manager
Department of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy
Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
Texas Southern University
Faculty Profile

Bhagavatula Moorthy, Ph.D.
Professor and Director
Neonatology Research Program
Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
Faculty Profile

Hamisu Salihu, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Community and Family Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Faculty Profile

Melissa A. Suter, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Baylor College of Medicine
Faculty Profile

Cheryl L. Walker, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Center for Precision Environmental Health and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Baylor College of Medicine
Faculty Profile

Kristina W. Whitworth, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Faculty Profile

The 2020-2021 MIEHR pilot project letter of intent cycle is closed. The deadline for the submission of the full proposal application is Dec. 7.

The MIEHR pilot projects are for one year (April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022) with no opportunity for extension (including no cost extensions) and with a budget not to exceed $50,000 in direct costs. Three to five applications will be funded this cycle. Applications must be multi-disciplinary and involve at least one mentor from a group of mentors at the MIEHR Center. Collaboration between investigators from both Baylor and TSU is highly encouraged and will be regarded as a strength in the application.

Letter of Intent

A letter of intent (LOI) should describe the title, objectives of the proposed research and how the project addresses environmental health disparities. Please include

1. Your name, institution (TSU or Baylor), department, position and contact information (email and phone)
2. How you self-identify [i.e., Hispanic or Latino; Black or African American, American Indian; Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander]
3. Information about your mentor(s) (name, institution, department and position)

The LOI will be reviewed by a sub-committee of the MIEHR Investigator Development Core (IDC) for its relevance to the center’s mission, potential impact and likelihood to support future applications for extramural funding.    

The LOI should be sent electronically to MIEHR-IDC@BCM.EDU no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 21. The MIEHR IDC sub-committee will evaluate LOIs and invite full applications by email on Oct. 29.  

Application and Review

The format of the proposal should mimic an NIH R03: abstract, specific aims and research strategy including references, all not more than 6 pages. Other supportive documents to be included: NIH biosketches, budget and budget justification, letter of support from primary mentor and a short description about the environment that will support the conduct of the study. The deadline for the submission of the full proposal application is Dec. 7. Applications should be sent electronically to MIEHR-IDC@BCM.EDU. The MIEHR IDC sub-committee will evaluate and score applications. Awards will be announced on Jan. 4, 2021. IRB approval for the project will be due by Jan. 15, 2021. Applicants who do not have IRB approval by Jan. 15 will be disqualified and they will lose that funding.

For More Information

Contact Dr. Hamisu Salihu, MIEHR IDC director, Dr. Moorthy Bhagavatula, MIEHR IDC co-director, or Dr. Denae King, MIEHR co-director of the Community Engagement and Dissemination Core.

News about MIEHR:

• Racial health inequities addressed with NIEHS research funding