Co-directed by Fred Schumacher, PhD, MPH, co-leader of Case CCC's Population & Cancer Prevention program, and Erika Trapl, PhD, Case CCC's Associate Director of Community Outreach & Engagement, the Healthy Futures Research Project aims to work with the residents of East Palestine and the surrounding area to understand the impact of the Norfolk Southern train derailment on the population in the area through engaging in community-based participatory research.
The team is studying the biological impact of chemical exposure on affected residents’ DNA to measure the potential short-term and long-term risks of developing chronic health conditions such as cancer, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases. The project team also is examining residents’ post-disaster quality-of-life, risk perceptions, and healthcare needs through interviews. To date, they have nearly 100 residents signed up for screening.