UC Irvine wins NIH grant to study environmental impacts on maternal, child mental health
Research will explore effects of exposure to heat waves, wildfire smoke in Southern California
- UC Irvine is awarded an NIH grant to probe how extreme heat and wildfire pollutants may increase parental postpartum depression and mental, emotional and behavioral disorders in children.
- Findings will guide public health and resilience strategies in Southern California communities.
Irvine, Calif., Oct. 9, 2025 – The Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health at the University of California, Irvine has been awarded a new grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, to investigate how environmental exposure may contribute to rising rates of parental postpartum depression and mental, emotional and behavioral disorders in children.
The study is led by Jun Wu, professor of environmental and occupational health. Her team will focus on Southern California families, examining how extreme heat, wildfire smoke and other environmental factors influence parental and child mental health.
“Our goal is to better understand how environmental conditions may contribute to mental health challenges for parents and children,” Wu said. “By identifying risks and vulnerable periods, we can provide insights that help families and communities build resilience.”
Mental, emotional and behavioral disorders such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and autism are rising among children. At the same time, Southern California is experiencing more extreme heat events and worsening wildfire seasons. Wu and her team will test whether exposure to prolonged heat and wildfire-related pollutants heightens the risk of parental postpartum depression or contributes to these disorders in children.
The research will draw on longitudinal data from about 600,000 births between 2008 and 2025 at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Using detailed residential histories and advanced exposure mapping, the study will assess environmental impacts across multiple stages, from preconception to adolescence.
The findings could inform public health programs, mental healthcare and targeted interventions, and environmental resilience policies, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Her work combines population-based research, spatial analysis and community partnerships to address environmental justice issues.
The five-year grant adds to more than $4.2 million in cumulative federal funding for UC Irvine’s environmental health research.
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.
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