Strategic framework for NIH extreme weather program is now available online

September/October 2025 | Volume 24 Number 5

Photo courtesy of NIEHS In some cases, sandbags may help prevent flooding of streams and other water bodies following heavy rainfall. 

Extreme weather threatens the health of all people. From 2010 to 2024, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded nearly 240 projects on topics such as the health impacts of wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme heat. NIH will continue to support research addressing the hazards to human health posed by dangerous weather and weather-related natural disasters.

A new strategic framework, posted on NIH's website in late September, outlines the mission, goals, objectives and high priority scientific approaches of NIH’s Health and Extreme Weather (HEW) program.

The framework summarizes the ways in which the HEW program aims to investigate both the direct and indirect impacts of extreme weather on the health of communities across America. Importantly, HEW will address knowledge gaps in the field and provide information that can be used for prevention, preparedness, and solutions to save lives and improve the quality of life for those affected by extreme weather and emerging environmental harms. The framework also guides NIH’s investments by providing concepts and examples of research that would generate scientific knowledge and innovations to address the most critical risks to human health associated with weather hazards.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is the administrative home of HEW, which is led by an executive committee comprising the directors of several institutes and centers at NIH.

Dr. Peter Kilmarx, acting director of Fogarty, co-chairs the executive committee with Kyle Walsh, PhD, director of NIEHS.

Updated November 19, 2025

To view Adobe PDF files, download current, free accessible plug-ins from Adobe's website.