Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention & Wellness
advancing climate adaptation and disease prevention strategies through
Research, Education, & Collaboration
Located within the Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH) at the George Washington University (GW), the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness (RGC) is dedicated to fostering healthier communities by addressing the critical intersections of chronic and infectious disease prevention, public health, and climate change with an emphasis on marginalized populations. Over the past decade, the RGC has advanced this mission through research, community-driven initiatives, policy analysis, and advocacy that address health promotion and climate change mitigation.
The RGC envisions a future where communities—especially those most at risk—do more than react and survive climate-related health hazards, they adapt and thrive.
Extreme Weather Research Showcase
Members of the Redstone Global Center, together with the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future, the REACH Center, and the GMU Institute for a Sustainable Earth, presented and explored extreme‑weather topics—including wildfires, emergency management, climate‑related infectious disease, and ecology and health—at GWSPH.
Announcement: 2026 Pilot grant competition
RGC launches the 2026 Pilot Grant Competition—RFP now available
The Redstone Global Center Newsletter - First Issue
Read about exciting events and research conducted during the Fall Semester of 2025.
The RGC convened embassy staff to discuss future of foreign aid — November 20, 2025
New Publication Alert
We’re proud to share a newly published opinion piece in PLOS Global Public Health, titled “Beyond Emergency Relief: The Role of U.S. Foreign Health Assistance Amid Growing Displacement and Climate Change,” released on November 3, 2025. This timely piece offers critical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates working at the nexus of health, humanitarian response, and climate resilience.
Our Focus
RESEARCH
Advance public health research on adaptation and disease prevention to lessen the impacts of climate-related hazards on health in at-risk communities, especially those facing displacement risks and health equity challenges, both locally and globally.
EDUCATION
Support the development of the next generation of leaders in climate adaptation and global health through education, scholarships, and information sharing.
COLLABORATION
Cultivate collaborations across academic, scientific, policy, and local communities to transform knowledge into innovative, evidence-based, and effective public health adaptation and prevention strategies for communities at risk of climate impacts on health and displacement.
Redstone Upcoming Events
GWSPH Research Day 2026
The RGC is a proud co-sponsor of the 2026 GWSPH Research Day, taking place on Wednesday, April 15.
The Climate and Health Institute and RGC will jointly award the best abstracts/posters in the Climate and Health category. This award recognizes work that addresses topics at the intersection of climate change and health, and advances solutions for mitigation, adaptation, and health equity.
2026 Climate & Health Research Day
Join us for the 2026 Climate and Health Research Day, co-hosted with the REACH Center and GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health.
📍 GW Milken Institute School of Public Health
📆 April 24th from 1:30 - 4:30 PM EDT
Registration is required.
The 2025 Annual Report
"We must remember that hope is not a passive state, and it is more than plain optimism. Hope is action-oriented, and we must acknowledge the tough realities that we face around climate, health, and adaptation while we work to chart a healthy future. I invite you to explore these report pages and consider how you might join us in this endeavor."
Dr. Timothy Holtz
Chair and Director, Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness
Explore Redstone Features
Forced displacement of large populations around the globe has triggered rising concern about the consequences for human health, according to a working paper published on September 25, 2025. The authors conclude that the health impacts of forced and environmentally induced displacement are a humanitarian priority, and the US must continue providing global health assistance to avert deaths and promote safety and security in the United States and abroad.
In the Driving Change White Paper, the RGC examines the direct harms of vehicle traffic on public health in the District of Columbia and how road pricing strategies can be utilized to help reduce chronic disease inequities, support a robust public transportation system, and advance the District's carbon neutrality goals
The RGC is proud to support the work of Redstone Fellow Uriyoán Colón-Ramos, Sc.D., M.P.A. and her research to help shift family drinking habits away from sugary drinks in the Washington metropolitan area.