I recently sat down with Peter Kilmarks, MD, Acting Director of the NIH Fogarty International Center (FIC), to discuss adaptation science, which is important but often overlooked in the broader conversation about climate change. As climate-related environmental challenges and extreme weather events continue to intensify, adaptation science – understanding and implementing strategies to enhance health and resilience – has become paramount.
And because the health threats posed by climate change are global in nature, it is important to foster international scientific collaboration, which is central to FIC's mission. This is one of the reasons why he is excited to share excerpts from his talk with Dr. Kilmarx, who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge on how to build effective global partnerships. For me, this conversation was a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of climate change and human health, and the role of interdisciplinary science in helping improve the health of people everywhere.
As Dr. Kilmarx aptly put it, “Adaptation science is about looking to the future, anticipating future challenges, and equipping ourselves with the knowledge and tools to confront them.” Climate change comes in many complex forms. Embracing adaptive science is essential to ensure that the approaches adopted by individuals and communities consider that complexity as it can impact our lives. Through increased research and collaboration, we can advance adaptive strategies that help people in the United States and around the world live healthier lives.
Expanding research partnerships
Rick Wojcik: Let's start by talking about Fogarty International Center and your main areas of focus.
peter killmarks: of course. Although the Fogarty International Center is the smallest of NIH's institutes and centers based on NIH funding and staffing, it has a tremendous mission to support global research efforts across NIH. We are particularly focused on training and capacity building in low-income countries to expand scientific partnerships between them and NIH, and we are also conducting significant research in the areas of infectious and non-communicable diseases. going.
It is not often recognized that the NIH is actually a global company. Several years ago, he discovered that there are approximately 80,000 scientific publications each year that cite NIH funding, and that 35% of those publications have co-authors outside the United States. We found that these publications actually had higher scientific impact factors compared to those that simply cited funding. American writer.
climate change and health
RW: Fogarty was one of the first NIH institutes and centers to actively participate in the NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative, which NIH helps lead. Could you elaborate on Mr. Fogarty's interest in this area?
P.K.: We certainly have a focus on climate change at Fogarty because it poses a significant global health threat. There is an urgent scientific need to learn more about how it affects us and to discover what we can do to minimize its negative effects. This type of research requires an interdisciplinary approach and involves the scientific interests of nearly every institute at the NIH.
Mr. Fogarty has been instrumental in supporting and coordinating research efforts related to climate change involving multiple institutions and centers, including through the Global Environmental and Occupational Health Program, in which NIEHS also participates. One thing I would like to add is the social justice aspect of climate change. This resonates with Fogarty's mission, as low-income countries face the greatest impacts, and we are committed to addressing these disparities.
Direct and indirect effects of extreme weather events
RW: What are some of the direct and indirect effects of climate change that you think need further research?
P.K.: Direct impacts such as injuries, infectious diseases and mental health problems can be caused by extreme weather events such as cyclones and floods, with massive loss of life having a devastating impact on families and entire communities. There is a possibility. Extreme conditions can also pose risks to agricultural and factory workers, including heat exhaustion, stroke, and acute kidney injury. Furthermore, climate change is changing the vectors of disease and introducing infectious diseases to new areas.
Indirect impacts include destruction of health infrastructure due to hurricanes. Patients who rely on ongoing treatments such as dialysis and chemotherapy find their healthcare networks disrupted. Furthermore, climate change is exacerbating the migration and refugee crisis, with people forced to flee their homes due to droughts and storms. These changes are having a significant impact on mental health and contributing to climate anxiety and other concerns.
adaptation science
RW:What exactly is adaptation science? And how is it different from climate mitigation?
P.K.: Although there is some overlap between the two, mitigation tends to focus on preventing climate change, while adaptation tends to focus on managing the effects of climate change.
Mitigation involves reducing emissions or increasing absorption of greenhouse gases and includes strategies from renewable energy to changes in transportation and diet. Adaptation recognizes the reality of climate change and focuses on adjustments to minimize its impacts through a variety of strategies including biomedical, behavioral, and structural changes.
Adaptation strategies are as diverse as the direct and indirect challenges just described. For outdoor workers, simple measures such as rest, shade, and hydration can significantly reduce the risk of acute kidney injury. However, many of the proposed strategies that appear beneficial at first glance require careful evaluation and research of future health effects.
Understand unintended consequences
RW: Could you please elaborate on that?
P.K.: Consider rainwater harvesting practices to counter the effects of drought. Although beneficial for hydration and hygiene, they create a breeding ground for diseases such as mosquitoes and can lead to increased incidence of dengue fever.
Similarly, indoor air filters can combat wildfire smoke by reducing levels of particulate matter, but the effects of filters on certain health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma have not been fully evaluated. not.
Planting trees can also have unintended consequences, especially when it comes to pollen and allergies. While tree planting is generally seen as a beneficial practice for carbon capture and urban cooling, the resulting increase in pollen can worsen allergies for many people. This shows the importance of choosing hypoallergenic trees and considering health impacts such as allergy-related medical visits when planning urban greening projects.
The important point here is that, as scientists, we need to consider the broader implications of our proposals, including potential risks. At NIH, we believe we have a powerful role to play in improving health outcomes through the careful study and implementation of these interventions.
More collaborations to come
RW: Do you have a final message for our readers?
P.K.: I would add that both adaptation science and mitigation efforts are important to improve health outcomes in the face of climate change.
Adaptation science allows us to understand and predict the impacts of climate change on diverse ecosystems and humans, allowing us to more effectively prepare and respond. Mitigation efforts are also essential, primarily to address the root causes of climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Finally, the importance of scientific collaboration cannot be overstated. By sharing knowledge, resources and technology, we can accelerate innovation and scale up effective interventions based on best practices and the latest research. This is one of the reasons why we at Fogarty are excited to collaborate with his NIEHS and other his NIH institutions on climate change and health initiatives, and we look forward to working with your institution and other organizations fruitfully in the coming years. We look forward to nurturing a partnership.
