NIH announces $10 million study into long-term health effects of East Palestine train derailment

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)  has announced a $10 million research initiative into the long-term health effects of the East Palestine train derailment.

According to a news release, the study was launched at the urging of Vice President and former Ohio U.S. Senator J.D. Vance and will span five years.

According to the release, the multi-disciplinary community-focused study will focus on the following areas:

- Longitudinal epidemiological research to understand the health impacts of exposures on short-term and long-term health outcomes including relevant biological markers of risk.

- Public health tracking and surveillance of the community's health conditions to support health care decisions and preventative measures

- Communication among researchers, study participants, community stakeholders, health care providers, government officials and others to establish a comprehensive approach to address the community's health concerns

A series of grants are expected to be issued to analyze various types of studies and community activities. The deadline to submit research proposals is Monday, July 21 and research is expected to begin in the fall.

You can learn more about the application process to participate in this study by clicking here.

East Palestine native Jess Conard tells 21 News that she is grateful that the NIH is investing in this study and that it's a step in the right direction. 

However, Conard also says the study does not provide any real-time solutions,  adding that something like this should have happened immediately after the derailment and that this study feels more like a "political afterthought."

"It does not provide any real time solutions, and that's a huge problem. This is something we've been asking for since day one, is a program put in place that is an organized medical response. Someone that would take our symptoms seriously," said Conard.

Conard said she hopes the study results in action being taken rather than just being placed on the shelf noting that residents have been "screaming for" things like medical support since the derailment happened.

"That way we can provide real time actionable takeaways, not just for my community, but other communities that have been chemically impacted," said Conard.

Jami Wallace, former East Palestine resident and founder of the Chemically Impacted Communities Coalition said she also has mixed feelings about the study.

"We still need relocation, we still need health insurance and we still need access to doctors that specialize in chemicals," said Wallace. "We’re now moving from symptoms, to seeing more long term illnesses. A lot of respiratory issues, liver issues, thyroid, breathing, eye problems. There is a whole list of things that we’re now getting diagnosed with."

Wallace added that all politicians need to step up.

"Everyone wants to make this a political issue. It’s not a democratic issue, it’s not a republican issue. It’s an issue of human lives," said Wallace.

Vance, who was serving as a U.S. Senator at the time of the derailment, took an immediately political tone in the news release, accusing then-president Joe Biden's administration of refusing to examine the potential health impacts of the derailment.  Federal agencies including the NIH, CDC, FEMA, EPA and NTSB were all on the ground in East Palestine within hours of the derailment, although some of their methods for testing things like air and soil were questioned for not going far enough. 

Biden also commissioned a series of health studies through six universities, overseen by the NIH. It's not clear whether the newly announced study will go further than those announced by Biden in 2024. 

"I'm glad that we finally have a new president that takes the concerns of everyday working-class people seriously. This historic research initiative will finally result in answers that this community deserves," Vance said.

Statements issued by Senator Bernie Moreno, who was not yet in office at the time of the derailment, and Congressman Mike Rulli, who represented East Palestine in the Ohio Senate at the time, were both heavy on political criticism, but did not contain additional information about what the new study will entail. 

Other local, state and national leaders weighed in as well including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who said this announcement is great for the residents of East Palestine.

"This funding will enable the people of East Palestine to have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that any potential for long-term health effects will be studied by the scientists at the National Institutes of Health," DeWine said.

Ohio U.S. Senator and former Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted also weighed in saying East Palestine residents deserve the transparency that comes with this study.

"My commitment to East Palestine means making sure that we have the facts necessary to respond effectively and compassionately - now and into the future," Husted said.

Finally, Valley Congressman Dave Joyce weighed in saying he looks forward to continuing to work with the Trump administration and his colleagues in Congress to enact the East Palestine Health Monitoring Act and similar programs to advocate for the long-term recovery for the area.

"Programs like these, in coordination with other federal, state and local partners are critical to ensuring the impacted communities can move forward with the essential tools and knowledge to safeguard their long-term well-being," Joyce said.

East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway also sent 21 News the following statement regarding the study.

“We were not forgotten. The Trump administration made the village and surrounding areas a promise we wouldn’t be forgotten and they lived up to that promise. Vice President Vance then Senator Vance has been here from the beginning and continues to support us. President Trump was the key to us getting the help our village desperately needed in our time of need. There have always been questions and concerns of what our future holds and hopefully these studies can give us answers to those questions.”