Institute for Human Health and the Environment

The environment we live and work in plays a huge role in our health. In fact, quality of life and longevity are more closely tied to someone’s zip code than their genetic code. At the University of Rochester’s Institute for Human Health and the Environment (IHHE), we believe that solutions to the 21st century’s most pressing health issues will be achieved by understanding how the environment influences our health, so that we can leverage the beneficial factors and reduce or eliminate the harmful ones. Accomplishing this goal requires a collaborative, creative, and sustained commitment to transforming ideas and information into actions.


Our mission: To accelerate scientific discoveries and promote solutions to key issues related to the impact of the environment on human health.
 
Areas of focus:

  • How environmental factors shape health across our lifetime
  • How chemicals in the air we breathe, and the water and foods we consume impact our health
  • The cumulative impacts of the environment on health disparities

  How can IHHE help:

  • Supporting engagement across the University and with community partners
  • Offering funding and other opportunities to help others with new research and educational activities
  • Encouraging collaboration, innovation, and the transformation of ideas into actions