UR Institute for Human Health and the Environment

06/02/2026

What if pregnancy could help predict health decades later?

As the number of women with metabolic and neurological diseases rises, our researchers are furthering our understanding of how environmental exposures during pregnancy (like chemicals found in plastics) may influence long-term maternal health.

This work is part of a broader shift in medicine ➡️ recognizing pregnancy as a window into future health, with implications for prevention, early detection, and public health policy.

05/27/2026

It’s official! University of Rochester has announced the formation of the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health Sciences, which unites biomedical toxicology and population-level environmental and public health. 📣

The new department combines nationally recognized strengths in toxicology, epidemiology, policy, and community health research and will build upon decades of leadership in environmental health, prevention science, and community engagement.

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Wyatte Hall! He was named on the Forbes Accessibility 200 list for the second time (he was also on Forbes’ inaugural 2025 list). 🎉

Forbes’ Accessibility List highlights the biggest innovators and impact-makers at the forefront of accessibility for people with disabilities. See who made the list.

05/22/2026

The "Meet the Plastics" fact sheets created by our Lake Ontario MicroPlastics Center (LOMP) are a featured material for the Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) Resource Center.
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/environmental-medicine/lake-ontario-microplastics-center/resources

University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
University of Rochester
RIT Collaborative for Plastic and the Environment
Rochester Institute of Technology

05/18/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Francisco (Paco) Cartujano-Barrera for receiving funding from the Orleans County Health Department as part of the NY State JUUL Settlement Fund. 🎉

His project will assess the efficacy of "The Villainous V**e" comic book which encourages va**ng prevention and cessation among adolescents ages 12 to 17.

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The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. It forms the centerpiece of the University of Rochester’s health research, teaching and patient care missions. The University of Rochester Medical Center is a private, coeducational, nonsec...

05/14/2026

Congratulations to Dr. AnaPaula Cupertino for receiving the 2026 Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Senior Faculty Award! 🎉

05/11/2026

Dr. Scott McIntosh was awarded a 5-year contract from the NY State Department of Health to continue funding the Center for To***co-Free Finger Lakes (CTFFL). 🎉

The CTFFL, which serves 11 counties in Western NY, assists health care providers with identifying and treating ni****ne addiction.

URochester Medicine / Public Health Sciences / Research / Ni****ne & To***co Research Core / Center for a To***co-Free Finger Lakes Welcome to the Center for a To***co-Free Finger Lakes The Center for a To***co-Free Finger Lakes (CTFFL) is one of eight contractor organizations in New York State fund...

05/08/2026

New journal article co-authored by Dr. Deborah Cory-Slechta. 🔊

“Links Between Toxic Exposures and Mental Health Conditions Among US Military”

This Viewpoint discusses links between toxic exposures and mental health conditions among US military.

05/01/2026

Madeline Holodnik, Engagement Coordinator for the IHHE was interviewed for this blog post by the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester on the health impacts of air fresheners.

The SHARE conference focused on advancing health equity through addressing four important themes: access to care, financial toxicity, health literacy and psychosocial impact for those living with breast or gynecologic cancer.