Redstone Global Center Highlights from GWSPH Research Day 2026

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, the Milken Institute School of Public Health hosted its annual Research Day, bringing together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners to “celebrate scholarship and innovation spanning the full spectrum of public health disciplines.” This year marked extraordinary growth for the event—expanding from 90 posters in 2023 to more than 270 in 2026.

The Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness (RGC) participated in the Research Center/Institute Showcase and co-sponsored the Climate and Health Research Prize. RGC-affiliated students and postdoctoral researchers presented eight posters addressing critical issues in climate and health, food systems, infectious diseases, and community health. Collectively, these researchers earned six awards across multiple categories.

List of presentations from our scholars, graduate research assistants, and postdoc (in alphabetical order by first name):

Afrin Iqbal 

PN 148: Evaluations of Climate-Informed Early Warning Systems for Foodborne, Waterborne, and Vector-Borne Diseases: A Scoping Review

Christine St. Pierre 

PN 157: The Food Literacy BITE Scale: Development and measurement properties in elementary schoolchildren  

Julia Blouin 

PN 174: Nourishing Student Wellbeing: Behavioral, Social, and Operational Insights from an Urban College Food Pantry

Katherine O’Brien 

PN 175: Examining Changes in the Incidence of Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in North Carolina Following Hurricane Helene  

Mariana Fagundes Grilo 

PN 182: Effect of Front-of-Package Label for Non-Sugar Sweeteners on Purchasing Behavior of Brazilian Parents: A Randomized Controlled Trial  

Tim O’Neal 

PN 213: Exploring Health-Promoting Physical Activity Behaviors in Immigrant Middle-Age Central American Men with Overweight or Obesity: A Concept Mapping Study

Yashan Wang

PN 264: Climate and Environmental Variability Shape Airborne Fungal Spore Exposure  

PN 265: Investigating the Zoonotic Origins of ESBL-Producing E. coli in Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections in Ecuador  

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Afrin Iqbal, 1st year PhD student in the Global Health Department, Redstone GRA

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Julia Blouin, 2nd year PhD student in the Exercise and Nutrition Department, Redstone Scholar

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Tim O'Neal, 3rd year PhD student in the Exercise and Nutrition Department, Redstone Scholar

Award winners

Christine St. Pierre

1st Place – Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security Research Prize and

2nd Place – GWSPH Research Prize for The Food Literacy BITE Scale: Development and measurement properties in elementary schoolchildren

Mariana Fagundes Grilo

1st Place – Gil-Lebovic Center for Community Health Research Prize for Effect of Front-of-Package Label for Non-Sugar Sweeteners on Purchasing Behavior of Brazilian Parents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Christie (second to the right) and Yashan (second to the left) receiving their Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security Research Prize

Yashan Wang

1st Place – Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security Research Prize for Investigating the Zoonotic Origins of ESBL-Producing E. coli in Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections in Ecuador

2nd Place – Climate & Health Research Prize  for Climate and Environmental Variability Shape Airborne Fungal Spore Exposure

Katherine O’Brien

1st Place – Climate & Health Research Prize for Examining Changes in the Incidence of Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in North Carolina Following Hurricane Helene

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Mariana (far left) receiving the Gil-Lebovic Center for Community Health Research Prize

 

GWSPH Research Day from our student's perspective 

'GWSPH’s 2026 Research Day showcased an impressive range of public health work being done by students, post-docs, and research staff across the school. I presented a poster of some research I contribute to at the Water, Health, and Opportunity lab, led by Environmental and Occupational Health Assistant Professor Dr. Cindy Hu, that focuses on the impact of Hurricane Helene on acute gastrointestinal illness in North Carolina. This presentation facilitated meaningful dialogue on both extreme weather and the broader field of climate and health as I had the opportunity to engage with students, staff, faculty, and GWSPH leadership. Additionally, I appreciated the space to learn about the work being done by my peers and colleagues. The interdisciplinary nature of Research Day facilitated many conversations and idea-sharing, which speaks to the collaborative spirit of GWSPH. After presenting, I stopped by the Redstone Global Center table to help represent the center and share our ongoing work on climate adaptation. The wider RGC community all gathered for a group photo—while it was challenging to fit everyone around the table, this illustrates the center's considerable growth over the past year! Ultimately, Research Day was a testament to our collective impact and action, and provided a renewed sense of hope for the future of public health.'

Katherine O’Brien
1st year PhD student from the EOH department, Redstone GRA

 

In partnership with the Climate and Health Institute (CHI), the RGC co-sponsored the Climate & Health Research Prize, which recognized work that addresses topics at the intersection of climate change and health, and advances solutions for mitigation, adaptation, and health equity. Six presenters across three categories were awarded for their outstanding work. Awardees represented undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral/staff researchers whose projects use innovative data, community-engaged approaches, and locally led strategies to understand and improve emerging climate‑related health challenges. The judges panel included Dr. Timothy Holtz, Maya Rao, Katie O’Donnell, and Greta Martin.

Climate & Health Research Prize Winners