UTHealth Houston launches firefighter cancer risk study with kick-off event
The initiative seeks to further identify early cancer biomarkers that can help reduce future cancer risk and detect disease in its earliest, most treatable stages.
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health hosted a kickoff event to celebrate the launch of a $5 million, multi-year initiative focused on reducing cancer risks and health impacts of environmental exposures for firefighters. The initiative is in close collaboration with participating fire departments, including the Houston Fire Department, Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association supported by state and local government officials, and seeks to further identify early cancer biomarkers that can help reduce future cancer risk and detect disease in its earliest, most treatable stages.
The launch event occurred on the morning of September 24th, at the TMC3 Collaborative Building in Houston, TX, bringing together researchers, university leaders, firefighters and public service members, community leaders, elected officials and stakeholders.
Eric Boerwinkle, PhD, dean of UTHealth Houston welcomed attendees to the occasion. “It is an honor to have UTHealth Houston leading this initiative and a sincere thank you to the legislators that passed the rider to fund this important effort,” he said.
Jooyeon Hwang, PhD, associate professor of environmental health and occupational sciences as well as the principal investigator of the study, followed the opening remarks and offered a heartfelt thank you to the group of firefighters and firefighter-advocates in attendance. The Texas Firefighter Cancer Study is nearly a decade in the making. Hwang acknowledges that “this is work that will impact lives and help shape policies to protect firefighters’ long-term health. I thank the firefighters who choose to use science through every stage of their service.”
To address cancer risk, the Texas Firefighter Cancer Research study will track fireground exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in real time and support annual screenings through educational tools and close partnerships with local fire departments and nearby health centers. The work is an expansive and robust continuation of previous efforts led by Hwang. The most recent iteration of the work will build on this research to further focus on exposure risks and prevention efforts with primary objectives of:
- Measure carcinogenic exposure
- Occupational cancer epidemiology evaluation
- Increasing cancer screenings
Supporter and advocate for the state legislative bill recently passed to fund the research, Lacey Hull, District 138 State Representative, was also in attendance. Hull emphasized the importance of “chronic diseases and environmental concerns that impact health.” She was steadfast in expressing gratitude to Patrick M. “Marty” Lancton and others who made this research happen; “Our firefighters deserve answers and prevention, and we are excited to see the launch of this research study. I was glad to work with my colleagues in the Legislature to appropriate funding for this. As we focus on Making Texas Healthy again, it is important to prioritize the public servants who place their lives on the line for our safety.” she said.
"This project is about finding answers and saving lives. Exposure assessments will measure what firefighters are breathing in and provide information on ways to reduce intake of those carcinogens. These findings will lead to better policy, stronger equipment standards and real change in how we protect fire fighter health,” said Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President, Patrick M. “Marty” Lancton, at Wednesday’s event.
John Riddle, president of the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters also shared, “The goal of this comprehensive research is clear, to develop policies and programs to protect firefighters’ health. Texas firefighters are deeply grateful to our state leaders for making this a priority. Their support sends a powerful message, the lives and well-being of Texas firefighters matter.”
Additional investigators on the study from the School of Public Health include Kristina Mena, PhD; Miryoung Lee, PhD, MPH; Eva Deemer, PhD; Dejian Lai, PhD; Juan Aguilera, MD; Maria Fernandez, PhD; and Derek Craig, PhD. The study is additionally supported by the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and the Human Genetic Center.
In addition to Representative Hull and Senator Carol Alvarado who had Erin Gonzales district director in attendance, the appropriations rider approved by the Legislature was also successfully pushed by Senator Brandon Creighton, Representative Jared Patterson, Representative Mando Martinez, as well as Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows.
View all photos here.