
The University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences is hosting a series of Disaster Research Response (DR2) Workshop events this year to bring together experts from across the Northwest to discuss research protocols to be used in the event of a major Pacific Northwest hazard such as earthquake, heatwave or wildfire smoke events.
Overview
The Disaster Research Response (DR2) Pre-Training Workshop, to be held Mar 17th from 9am to 2pm Pacific Time and Training Workshop, to be held in Seattle later in 2022, will focus on the process for conducting research specific to Pacific Northwest (PNW) hazards. These include, for example, a Cascadia earthquake scenario, heat waves, and wildfire smoke event. Event participants will include representatives from:
- local, state, and federal government
- PNW Tribes
- academia
- the private sector
- community-based organizations
We also welcome community members interested in topics concerning hazards, disasters, and public health - particularly those engaged or interested in disaster research response.
The DR2 Workshop is part of the larger DR2 Program within the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). If you have any questions about the NIEHS DR2 program, please contact Betsy (Eagin) Galluzzo (betsy.eagin@nih.gov) and April Bennett (april.bennett@nih.gov).
Workshop Goal
The goal of the DR2 Workshop is to build regional capacity for research response following disasters that occur within the PNW. This goal is organized around seven detailed objectives that include, but are not limited to, exploring the integration of various perspectives in creating and implementing research plans following events aimed at reducing community health impacts during response and recovery, as well as a space for facilitating and fostering relationships and knowledge sharing among local, state, Tribal, federal, academic, international, and community partners and stakeholders.
Workshop Structure
The workshop itself will be a series of presentations where groups share what they have accomplished as part of the DR2 Workshop planning process. The structure of the workshop not only includes presentations and research training, but also breakout sessions to discuss, gather audience feedback, and identify future opportunities for research and engagement. More details about the meeting and how to register will be made available in the coming months.
Key Anticipated Outcomes of the Workshop
- Identification of funding opportunities for disaster health research across federal agencies, private foundations, and other funding sources;
-
Institutional Review Board guidance to efficiently review research protocols for timely data collection following disaster, and
- Creation of sustainable relationships and collaboration mechanisms to produce meaningful and applicable disaster response research
Workshop Affiliated Activities
There will be a number of events and activities associated with the workshop, including:
- Tribal engagements and relationship development
- Discussions with other NIEHS grantees on how to collaborate on disaster research response
- International collaborative workshops or meetings
- Coordination with other academic initiatives
- Student poster session
- A virtual pre-workshop (more information below)
Virtual DR2 Pre-Workshop
We are hosting a Virtual DR2 Pre-Workshop on Thursday, March 17th, 2022 from 9am to 2pm Pacific Time. This event will set the stage for the larger, in-person workshop to be held in Seattle later in 2022. For more information about the Pre-Workshop please visit the links below.

A detailed overview of speakers, topics, and goals for each of the sessions to be held on March 17th, 2022.

A flier with details about the March 17th event to download and share.