Residents and public health experts are gathering tonight to launch a major health research program on the eve of the third anniversary of the fiery Norfolk Southern train derailment.

Researchers from the University of Kentucky, the University of Pittsburgh, and Yale University are hosting a community meeting tonight at the East Palestine High School auditorium from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will detail the latest federally supported East Palestine Train Derailment Health Research Program. On Tuesday, officials will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. to mark the grand opening of the program’s new local office located at The Way Station.

The initiative comes three years after a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed on Feb. 3, 2023. Thirty-eight cars came off the tracks, including 11 cars containing hazardous chemicals. The resulting fire and a subsequent "controlled release" of vinyl chloride from five rail cars sent a massive plume of black smoke over the region and led to the evacuation of thousands of residents in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The new program aims to study the long-term health effects of those chemical exposures. It is supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health.

"This federally supported research program represents a critical step toward understanding the long-term health impacts of the derailment," said Misti Allison, chair of the program’s Community Advisory Board, in a media advisory. Allison noted that the program intends to ensure the voices of impacted community members remain central to the research.

Tonight’s meeting will explain how residents in the region can sign up for the study. The research is open to people who lived in East Palestine or the surrounding area at the time of the derailment, as well as those who responded to the scene or worked on cleanup efforts.

Participants in the program will be asked to complete annual health surveys and visit a local clinic for health measures. Adults can earn up to $175 for their participation, which includes $25 for an initial online survey and between $10 and $100 for clinic visits, depending on the tests completed. The study has also expanded to include children aged 8 and older, provided a parent or guardian also participates.

The University of Kentucky has been tracking local health through surveys since April 2023. Early data from these surveys have shown that many residents continue to report physical and mental health challenges.

In a survey conducted in the spring of 2025, 70% of participants reported upper airway symptoms, such as sinus drainage and nose or eye irritation. About 40% reported lower airway symptoms like coughing or wheezing, and 42% reported headaches.

The surveys also found that many residents are still dealing with psychological stress. Approximately 29% of participants screened positive for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) more than two years after the incident.

Previous pilot studies by the research team have looked at specific types of exposure. A serum dioxin study involving 18 participants found that while dioxins were present, the levels were generally within the range of what is typically found in the U.S. population. Another study used silicone wristbands to measure semi-volatile organic compounds. While no dioxins were found on the wristbands, researchers did detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are often created by burning materials or vehicle exhaust.

Researchers say the goal of the five-year, $10 million program is to provide answers to residents who remain concerned about their environment and their future health.

The community meeting tonight will also include a screening of a storytelling documentary produced by the group Riverwise, which highlights the experiences of residents following the disaster. For those unable to attend the high school meeting, the session will be recorded and posted online later.

The grand opening on Tuesday at The Way Station is an invitation-only event for local leaders and media, but it marks the start of a permanent local presence for the research team. Residents looking for more information or wishing to join the study can visit the program's website at research.uky.edu/environment/east-palestine-health-research.