RESEARCH
The Ekenga Research Group is an epidemiology research group focused on environmental and occupational exposures. Our mission is to advance knowledge that informs policies and practices for promoting healthy environments for all where we live, work, and play.
We investigate the ways in which environmental and occupational factors affect health and contribute to differences in health outcomes. We use quantitative and mixed methods, including exposure modeling, interviews, and focus groups. Recent work has focused on the health impacts of extreme weather and air pollution across the life course, as well as community-engaged mapping to identify actionable environmental risk factors and evaluate their effects on health behaviors and clinical outcomes. The group is led by Dr. Christine Ekenga, PhD, MPH.
WHO WE ARE
We are a research group committed to inclusive and actionable research. We believe that drawing on a wide range of perspectives and expertise strengthens our ability to promote healthy environments and improve health outcomes for all. We welcome talented students, fellows, and collaborators from all backgrounds who share this commitment, and we strive to maintain a welcoming, collaborative environment for every member of our team.
CURRENT WORK
Environment and Health
Our research centers low-resourced and medically underserved populations who experience overexposure to environmental hazards and reduced access to beneficial aspects of the environment. Current projects focus on the spatial distribution of environmental health hazards and benefits and the development of indicators to inform evidence-based planning and public health practice. Exposures of interest include air pollution, extreme weather events, the built environment, and community assets, with the goal of identifying actionable strategies for building healthier communities.
Weather Extremes, Place, and Policy
Our research group is involved in collaborative efforts to better understand the health impacts of extreme weather events and disasters across the places where people live, work, learn, and age. We investigate how extreme weather and other emerging global health challenges affect health and well-being, with particular attention to low-resource and medically underserved communities. Current projects examine perceptions of climate change, the health impacts of weather extremes, and strategies to strengthen community and health system resilience.
Community Engagement
Our community-engaged work focuses on promoting healthy environments at home, at work, and in communities. We aim to conduct research and training that builds capacity within communities and generates actionable evidence to address real-world health and environmental challenges. We work closely with community partners to develop projects that integrate community-engaged geospatial methods. We also provide training on health and environmental topics for youth, health and science professionals, and the general public. Current projects include participatory GIS, wearable sensor-based exposure assessment, and AI/NLP approaches to analyze community-generated data.
get in touch
CONTACT DR. EKENGA FOR ACADEMIC, MEDIA, AND SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES
