RFA 23-1, Assessing Health Effects of Traffic-Related Air Pollution in a Changing Urban Transportation Landscape

RFA 23-1 is seeking to fund studies to assess health effects of long-term exposure to TRAP. Studies should propose novel or improved methods and approaches to evaluate exposure to and health effects of traffic-related air pollutants as technologies and fuels change, the fleet turns over, mobility transforms, and electrification makes greater inroads.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

RFA 23-1 seeks to fund studies that can accomplish at least one of the objectives listed below. Note that in meeting the first three objectives, investigators should consider whether their work can effectively include effects in marginalized communities in high-income countries.

• In the proposed health studies, develop, validate, and apply novel or improved exposure assessment methods suitable for estimating exposures to traffic-related air pollutants that (1) account for other air pollution sources in urban areas (such as airports, (sea)ports, industries, and other local point sources), (2) could distinguish between tailpipe and non-tailpipe traffic emissions, to the maximum extent possible, and (3) take into consideration the overall impact of (new) transportation and mobility trends on air quality and exposure.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of key measures to reduce TRAP and improve public health, as well as to assess the health benefits of measures designed to mitigate traffic or achieve other policy objectives.
• Estimate the impacts on urban air quality and health of various new transportation and mobility scenarios, including a baseline (status quo or "business as usual") scenario.
• Investigate health effects of long-term exposure to TRAP in understudied low- and middle-income countries.

STUDY DURATION AND BUDGET GUIDELINES

Overall, a total of $5 million will be available for this RFA. HEI expects to fund a small number of studies (2 to 3 years in duration).