The health effects of environmental chemicals depend on their internal and metabolite concentrations in target tissues. Predicting internal exposures requires a physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modeling approach that mechanistically simulates the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) processes of xenobiotics in the human body. PBTK modeling is increasingly used in environmental health risk assessment. This introductory course teaches the fundamental concepts and simulation techniques of PBTK modeling for internal exposure predictions. Offered in conjunction with EHS/IBS 720.

This course presents the fundamental concepts of biomarkers of exposure to environmental chemicals including relevant clinical markers (e.g., inflammation or injury markers). The course introduces students to both quantitative and qualitative biomarker measurements and presents and interpretive framework for using biomarker data. Students will develop proficiency in applying the principles of exposure science to characterize and quantify environmental exposures.

This elective course provides students with an overview of systems biology, genetics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics, within the context of environmental health. We will cover policy and translational implications and teach the underlying biological principles driving these analyses, laboratory methods involved, analytic approaches, and epidemiologic considerations. Upon completion of this course, students should be better equipped to read and interpret the scientific literature utilizing these methods and begin to consider how these approaches could be included in their own research.

Prerequisites: EH Department student, EPI 530 and BIOS 500. Students will gain experience reading, evaluating, and interpreting epidemiologic studies on the impact of both workplace and environmental exposures, and thinking through practical considerations. The course aims to strengthen each student?s ability to read epidemiological literature critically. This aim will be realized through in-depth exploration of major study designs including cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, and case-control studies; and through the weekly readings and case studies. Although some data analysis is required, the focus of the class is on conceptual issues common in environmental and occupational epidemiology research and on the interpretation of findings. Successful completion of the course will also contribute to a richer appreciation of how the environment affects public health.

This course is an introduction to the concepts, methods, and issues involved in community-academic research partnerships addressing environmental health concerns. Emphasis is given to community engagement principles, ethical issues, and practical considerations in planning, implementing, and disseminating community-engaged research.

In this course, students will explore the special environmental disease burden in Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), contributing factors, and specific risks. They will critically evaluate the principal environmental interventions for effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability. They will examine policies and practices of international organizations, governments, and implementers. They will also consider the effects of climate change on these environmental health risks. Throughout the course, students will address the justice issues presented this large and preventable disease burden borne almost exclusively on low-resource populations.

Prerequisite: Helpful if students have some background in biology. This course covers ways the environment influences the transmission and spread of infectious diseases in humans. We consider air, water, soil, animal, and human influences, with case studies on each of these factors. The course covers methods used in the study of infectious diseases, including epidemiology, mathematical modeling, risk analysis, social science, ecology, and molecular biology. Students will learn to think from the perspective of a pathogen trying to maximize its fitness over both short- and long-term time scales.

Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be and engage with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) champions, program managers, researchers, policymakers, and donors. The course supports applied learning on developing, executing, and evaluating sustainable and inclusive WASH in Schools interventions in collaboration with stakeholders. Students will interact with development professionals and policy makers from various countries and organizations such as UNICEF, CARE, Save the Children, GIZ and others.

Recommended Prerequisite: GH 529 Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries or equivalent. This hands-on course covers methods needed to carry out field studies focused on water and health. Through lecture and laboratory exercises, students will learn critical skills in measuring water quality exposure assessment and waterborne disease health outcomes that will enable them to conduct their own field studies and analyze the resulting data. The focus will be on issues of microbiological contamination in developing countries, but chemical contamination and domestic cases will also be covered.

This elective course provides students with an overview of systems biology, genetics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics, within the context of environmental health. We will cover policy and translational implications and teach the underlying biological principles driving these analyses, laboratory methods involved, analytic approaches, and epidemiologic considerations. Upon completion of this course, students should be better equipped to read and interpret the scientific literature utilizing these methods and begin to consider how these approaches could be included in their own research.