Equity and Climate Opportunities for Health (ECO-Health) Center: Administrative Core

ABSTRACT (ADMIN CORE) Climate change is an unprecedented threat to human health and converges with modifiable social and structural factors to amplify health risks and health disparities among disproportionately impacted populations. Our mission is to establish the ECO-Health Center (Equity and Climate Opportunities for Health) at the University of California

(UC) to drive solutions-focused, community-engaged research on the complex intersection of climate change, the social and structural context, and poor health outcomes. The Administrative Core (AC) of the proposed Center will provide pivotal leadership, coordination, and oversight to achieve the Center’s aims. The AC will

operate through four key administrative bodies, each serving a distinct yet complementary role. The Executive Committee will lead the AC and serve as the primary decision-making body, overseeing scientific, programmatic, and administrative decisions for the Center. The Career Development and Training Unit will ensure that a diverse

cadre of learners at all levels are engaged in the Center’s research activities through workshops, works in progress, and training programs on climate epidemiology, causal inference methods, machine learning, implementation science, intervention development, and community-engaged research. The Data Analytic Unit

will develop and maintain the Center’s data hub, including ensuring data harmonization, protocol sharing, and data availability and accessibility via online platforms. The Community-Engaged Research Development Unit will oversee the administrative processes of the pilot grants, including soliciting, selecting, and assessing

community-partnered pilot projects. The work of the AC will also be guided by four advisory bodies – the Internal Advisory Committee (IAC), the External Advisory Committee (EAC), the Community Advisory Board (CAB), and the NIH Research Coordinating Center/Climate Change and Health Community of Practice – that will provide

guidance on the operations and progress of the Center. While ensuring equitable engagement with scientists and communities, the AC aims to (1) Provide scientific and programmatic leadership to the ECO-Health Center, (2) Build the foundation for effective partnerships and foster communication and synergies between all Center

elements, and (3) Ensure efficient and responsive management of the Center’s operations, finances, and other resources. We are committed to including people from diverse perspectives, disciplines, and expertise in every component of the AC to facilitate communications and collaboration, and foster innovation. We will engage

communities disproportionately impacted by climate change in all phases of the Center’s research and training. By providing administrative guidance and coordinating structures, the Administrative Core will accelerate high- impact, community-engaged research on equitable climate-health resilience within California communities

disproportionately harmed by climate hazards. The ultimate goal is to position the ECO-Health Center as a leading research institution, laying the groundwork for future research focused on climate, health, and equity.