Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program About the Program | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program About the Program | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program
About the Program
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Table of Contents
Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program Fact Sheets
Program Contacts
NIH Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program 10th Anniversary Report - March 2025
This report describes the program’s evolution over the past decade, with a focus on successful efforts to improve our national capacity to address disasters and public health emergencies.
NIH Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program 10th Anniversary Report
(7MB)
The frequency and severity of disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme-heat events is growing in the U.S. and globally. Disasters and public health emergencies, whether local or global, natural or human-caused, result in unique combinations of human exposures, hazards, and stressors. The associated immediate physical and mental health impacts, as well as long-term consequences are often not well studied, nor understood.
Too often, basic questions about the safety and health of communities and disaster responders impacted by a disaster or public health emergency go unanswered. The historical lack of research that considers questions such as the following is a critical missed opportunity:
Are the risks different for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, older adults, or those with pre-existing health conditions?
How do we accurately measure, assess the health risks, and implement effective interventions from complex disaster-related exposures?
How do we diagnose and treat harm that has occurred?
Is it OK to breathe the air, drink the water, or eat food grown in our neighborhood?
Is my home and yard safe for my family and pets?
What are the additional health risks and impacts on disadvantaged communities burdened with a history of elevated exposures to environmental hazards?
What are the best strategies for reducing both immediate and long-term potential physical and mental health effects?
Environmental health investigations and research that is appropriately integrated into existing and emerging response frameworks for disasters and public health emergencies can help answer these questions. This information can inform future response, recovery, and preparedness efforts, which in turn will help increase resiliency among individuals, communities, and nations.
The knowledge that is generated through well-designed, effectively executed research in anticipation of, in the midst of, and after an emergency is critical to our future capacity to better achieve the overarching goals of preparedness and response: preventing injury, illness, disability, and death, and supporting recovery.
Lurie N, Manolio T, Patterson AP, Collins F, Frieden T. Research as a Part of Public Health Emergency Response. New England Journal of Medicine. 2013 Mar 28;368:1251-1255.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program spearheads U.S. efforts and works with global partners to empower timely human health research in response to disasters and public health emergencies through:
Funding
and resources to facilitate collection of perishable post-event exposure data.
Access to a collection of over 500 curated research surveys and tools, including a RAPIDD Protocol Designer, through the
DR2 Program webpage
.
Connection to a
DR2 Community of Practice
of researchers and public health practitioners.
Training & Education
materials, workshops, and symposia.
Visit the
DR2 Videos webpage
to view all DR2-related videos.
Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program Fact Sheets
NIH DR2 Program: A Program With National Reach
(417KB)
NIH DR2 Program: Advancing Disaster Research Across the Country
(721KB)
NIH DR2 Program: Providing Resources for Disaster Researchers
(965KB)
Program Contacts
Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program
[email protected]
Aubrey K. Miller, M.D., M.P.H.
Senior Medical Advisor
Tel 301-496-3511
[email protected]
Ann Y. Liu, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Contractor - Senior Scientist
Tel 301-496-3511
[email protected]
Join DR2 email list
Back
to Top
Last Reviewed: February 12, 2026
Skip Navigation
Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program
About the Program
Close the left navigation
Add
Table of Contents
Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program Fact Sheets
Program Contacts
NIH Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program 10th Anniversary Report - March 2025
This report describes the program’s evolution over the past decade, with a focus on successful efforts to improve our national capacity to address disasters and public health emergencies.
NIH Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program 10th Anniversary Report
(7MB)
The frequency and severity of disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme-heat events is growing in the U.S. and globally. Disasters and public health emergencies, whether local or global, natural or human-caused, result in unique combinations of human exposures, hazards, and stressors. The associated immediate physical and mental health impacts, as well as long-term consequences are often not well studied, nor understood.
Too often, basic questions about the safety and health of communities and disaster responders impacted by a disaster or public health emergency go unanswered. The historical lack of research that considers questions such as the following is a critical missed opportunity:
Are the risks different for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, older adults, or those with pre-existing health conditions?
How do we accurately measure, assess the health risks, and implement effective interventions from complex disaster-related exposures?
How do we diagnose and treat harm that has occurred?
Is it OK to breathe the air, drink the water, or eat food grown in our neighborhood?
Is my home and yard safe for my family and pets?
What are the additional health risks and impacts on disadvantaged communities burdened with a history of elevated exposures to environmental hazards?
What are the best strategies for reducing both immediate and long-term potential physical and mental health effects?
Environmental health investigations and research that is appropriately integrated into existing and emerging response frameworks for disasters and public health emergencies can help answer these questions. This information can inform future response, recovery, and preparedness efforts, which in turn will help increase resiliency among individuals, communities, and nations.
The knowledge that is generated through well-designed, effectively executed research in anticipation of, in the midst of, and after an emergency is critical to our future capacity to better achieve the overarching goals of preparedness and response: preventing injury, illness, disability, and death, and supporting recovery.
Lurie N, Manolio T, Patterson AP, Collins F, Frieden T. Research as a Part of Public Health Emergency Response. New England Journal of Medicine. 2013 Mar 28;368:1251-1255.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program spearheads U.S. efforts and works with global partners to empower timely human health research in response to disasters and public health emergencies through:
Funding
and resources to facilitate collection of perishable post-event exposure data.
Access to a collection of over 500 curated research surveys and tools, including a RAPIDD Protocol Designer, through the
DR2 Program webpage
.
Connection to a
DR2 Community of Practice
of researchers and public health practitioners.
Training & Education
materials, workshops, and symposia.
Visit the
DR2 Videos webpage
to view all DR2-related videos.
Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program Fact Sheets
NIH DR2 Program: A Program With National Reach
(417KB)
NIH DR2 Program: Advancing Disaster Research Across the Country
(721KB)
NIH DR2 Program: Providing Resources for Disaster Researchers
(965KB)
Program Contacts
Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program
[email protected]
Aubrey K. Miller, M.D., M.P.H.
Senior Medical Advisor
Tel 301-496-3511
[email protected]
Ann Y. Liu, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Contractor - Senior Scientist
Tel 301-496-3511
[email protected]
Join DR2 email list
Back
to Top
Last Reviewed: February 12, 2026