Category Archives: Center News

Kristina Whitworth, PhD, and Shelly A. Buffington, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine received the inaugural Elferink Award for Excellence in Exploratory Research at the 2026 GC-CPEH Annual Member Retreat. The award honors the memory of former GC-CPEH Co-Director Cornelis “Kees” Elferink, PhD.

Rooted in Wellness Community Health Fair is an annual health and wellness event hosted by Prairie View A&M University’s College of Nursing and Wellness in Houston programs at St. James Episcopal Church in Houston’s historic Third Ward on October 10, 2026 from 10am to 1pm. The Gulf Coast Center for Precision Community Engagement Core (GC-CPEH-CEC)ContinueContinue reading “CEC Activation at Rooted in Wellness Health Fair”

The Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health is proud to announce the seven projects selected for Round 8 of its Full Pilot Program, totaling $280,000 for the July 15, 2026 – May 31, 2027 project period.

The Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health Community Engagement Core (GC-CPEH-CEC) participated in Wellness on Wheels (WoW), a health and resource fair hosted by Harris County Public Health (HCPH) several times throughout the year in various communities across Greater Houston. This event was held on Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 10am to 2pm at Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology CenterContinueContinue reading “CEC at Wellness on Wheels – A Mobile Health Event”

On Saturday, June 6, 2026, the Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health Community Engagement Core (GC-CPEH CEC) participated in the 2026 World Ocean Day Festival at East Beach on Galveston Island. This United Nations–recognized day celebrates and promotes the protection of our ocean. Hosted by community partner Artist Boat, the festival brought together 23ContinueContinue reading “2026 World Ocean Day Festival Highlights: Community in Action”

Member Highlight: Dr. Drew Helmer, CEC Director and CEET Co-Lead The Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health (GC-CPEH) is pleased to announce the launch of a new podcast, Between Service & Science: The Veterans’ Health Podcast. Led by Dr. Drew Helmer, Co-Director of the Community Engagement Core (CEC), this podcast brings together researchers, clinicians,ContinueContinue reading “GC-CPEH Launches Veterans’ Health Podcast”

Member Highlight: Elaine Symanski, Ph.D., GC-CPEH Deputy Director & TRSC Director The inaugural Houston Regional Air Quality Summit was held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the Cullen Building, Baylor College of Medicine. Co-hosted by the FIFA World Cup Houston Host Committee Sustainability Subcommittee and co-sponsored by GC-CPEH, the Summit convened community members, policymakers, industryContinueContinue reading “2025 Houston Regional Air Quality Summit”

Member Highlight: Dr. Zheng Sun, GC-CPEH GE2 Theme Co-Lead GC-CPEH GE2 Co-lead and associate professor of medicine – endocrinology Dr. Zheng Sun, together with colleague Dr. Hu Chen, assistant professor of pediatrics, at Baylor College of Medicine have been studying the effects of exercise in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model which was published in Alzheimer’sContinueContinue reading “Exercise Boosts Memory: Dr. Zheng Sun’s Alzheimer’s Research”

Member Highlight: Dr. Drew Helmer, CEC Director and CEET Co-Lead GC-CPEH CEC Director and CEET Co-lead Dr. Drew Helmer, together with colleagues Drs. Mhd Hasan Al Mekdash and Tarek Kandakji examined how concerns about toxic exposure contribute to veterans’ use of social media. The project was conducted through the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness,ContinueContinue reading “HELMER TALKS ABOUT VETERANS, TOXIC EXPOSURE, AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE”

We are proud to announce the six projects selected for Round 7 of the Full Pilot Program. These innovative studies reflect the creativity and commitment of our investigators and will generate important new insights to advance environmental health research and improve community well-being. Congratulations to Our 2025 Pilot Project Awardees Bingning Dong Melissa Suter GuyContinueContinue reading “Announcing Round 7 Full Pilot Projects”