What’s this about?
The Built Environment & Health (BEH) project is an interdisciplinary program of research at Columbia University. Led by epidemiologist Andrew Rundle, BEH uses spatial data to examine the implications of the built environment, including land use, public transit, and housing, for physical activity, diet, obesity, and other aspects of health. With a focus on New York City, BEH research will inform public policy to promote health in the city and metropolitan area. BEH is affiliated with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars program at Columbia.
NIEHS Partnerships for Public Environmental Health Program Supports BEH Work with NYC Food & Fitness Partnership
New Grant
The National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) recently awarded funding to BEH for a new project that combines research, education, and collaboration with city and community agencies. Under the new grant, BEH will develop detailed GIS measures of New York City’s resources for physical activity. In addition, BEH will work with the New York City Food & Fitness Partnership, a broad coalition of city agencies and community groups joining together to promote healthy eating and physical activity. BEH will carry out data analysis and mapping to help Partnership members, including community coalitions in East and Central Harlem, the South Bronx, and Central Brooklyn, identify local needs and resources for healthy living. The New York City Partnership is one of nine across the country that have received funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation’s Food & amp; Fitness Initiative.
Key personnel on the new project include Andrew Rundle (Project Investigator), Kathryn Neckerman, Marnie Purciel, and James Quinn.
