UK to lead federal research effort on East Palestine health impacts
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2025) — University of Kentucky scientists received $1.8 million through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) East Palestine, Ohio, Train Derailment Health Research Program to conduct critical research into the long-term health effects of the 2023 disaster. The funding — from NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) — supports the program’s first year of work, and the university will be a major contributor by helping to lead a consortium of three academic institutions. The program is administered by NIEHS and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, also part of NIH.
On Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed, with 38 cars carrying hazardous chemicals — including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylene glycol and benzene residue — leading to prolonged fires and a vent and burn of five cars of vinyl chloride. Since then, community members have reported a range of health issues, from headaches and respiratory problems to skin and eye irritation, raising concerns about potential long-term impacts on maternal and child health, as well as psychological, immunological, respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes.
The research consortium, named East Palestine Investigation Consortium (EPIC), is led by Erin Haynes, Dr.P.H., professor in the UK College of Public Health Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health. EPIC emphasizes a community-driven approach, ensuring residents play an active role in shaping the research agenda.
Since shortly after the derailment, Haynes has worked closely with residents, local organizations, and public health officials to develop a comprehensive health strategy for East Palestine. Her team, including East Palestine resident Misti Allison, who has a Master of Public Health, has already followed people in the community through a two-year health tracking study. With this new funding, EPIC researchers will measure long-term changes in health markers such as lung and immune function and mental health.
“I am so grateful to NIEHS for supporting our ongoing research with and for the East Palestine community,” said Haynes, the Kurt W. Deuschle Professor of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health. “This funding will allow us to conduct a comprehensive community health needs assessment, collect health data over time, implement a health research tracking system and share findings with the community. We will also collaborate with other research teams to help address the ongoing health and exposure questions the community is asking.”
Community partners in the UK-led study include The Way Station, Columbiana County General Health District, The Brightside Project and East Liverpool Health Clinic, who have worked alongside residents since the derailment. Their involvement will ensure the research stays rooted in local priorities.
UK will collaborate on this initiative with other consortium team members, including Yale University and the University of Pittsburgh. At Yale, Nicole Deziel, Ph.D., Michelle Bell, Ph.D., and James Saiers, Ph.D., will evaluate water quality impacts through state-of-the-science hydrological modeling with Ohio Valley Allies. At the University of Pittsburgh, Juliane Beier, Ph.D., will study liver and thyroid function. Darryl Hood, Ph.D., from Ohio State University, will serve as a consultant on the study.
To strengthen its community partnership, EPIC is planning a community meeting in East Palestine in November to provide updates on the research, answer questions and share next steps. More details about the event will be announced in the coming weeks and will be open to the public.
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Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number OT2ES038696. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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