IHPI-supported U-M Sustainability Catalyst Grants advance climate and health research

The Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan has awarded seven Sustainability Catalyst Grants for 2026, including two supported by the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation (IHPI).

The selected projects span public health, engineering, design, agriculture, data systems and the performing arts, connecting U-M researchers with community organizations, practitioners, businesses and institutions. Each project is designed to inspire progress toward greater sustainability—testing ideas, co-creating tools and generating knowledge that can inform policy, practice and future work.

Together, the newly funded projects reflect Graham's commitment to research that is both rigorous and responsive. 

"The Sustainability Catalyst Grants fill a critical gap to jumpstart interdisciplinary, engaged research that will have real-world impact," said Drew Horning, interim director of the Graham Sustainability Institute. "By connecting researchers with community partners and centering practical solutions, these projects lay the foundation for work that can grow, adapt and endure."

The IHPI grants were made possible through special support from IHPI's Sandy-Hassmiller Climate and Health Initiative, which aims to advance research at the intersection of climate and health. Made possible by a generous donation from Lewis Sandy and Susan Hassmiller, health care professionals and leaders, this work highlights the critical role of health care systems in building climate resilience and protecting community health.

Applied research is key to translating sustainability goals into real-world practice across sectors. The 2026 Sustainability Catalyst Grant portfolio sets the stage for multisector, user-driven solutions, from strengthening protections for communities facing extreme heat to advancing circular economies in Michigan's agricultural sector, operationalizing sustainability in the performing arts, and clarifying the water and energy implications of digital infrastructure.

IHPI-supported grants will fund the following projects: 

• Hot Days, Cool Solutions: Helping Health Workers Protect Communities

  Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths, and its risks are increasing as heat waves become more frequent and severe. People with chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease, and individuals from racial and ethnic minority communities face disproportionate health impacts during extreme heat events. Community health workers (CHWs) are trusted frontline professionals who bridge communities and healthcare systems, and because they share social and cultural ties with the communities they serve, CHWs are well positioned to support extreme heat preparedness and improve access to appropriate cooling resources. However, there is a lack of actionable guidance developed with and for CHWs to promote extreme heat preparedness and sustainable cooling strategies.

  This project will bring together researchers and community partners to co-create and test a practical educational tool for CHWs to support extreme heat preparedness and sustainable cooling strategies among people with chronic conditions. Developed in partnership with CHWs, healthcare providers, and patient partners, the interactive curriculum will be widely disseminated and formatively evaluated across diverse care contexts. Project partners include Americares, the Harvard C-CHANGE Center, Visión y Compromiso (VyC), and the Michigan Community Health Worker Alliance (MiCHWA). This project will strengthen community preparedness for extreme heat and equip individuals and families with practical, sustainable solutions for a warming world. 
  
  The research team is made up of members from Michigan Medicine, the School of Public Health, Institute for Social Research and Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research. The principal investigator is Paul Chandanabhumma, assistant professor of family medicine at Michigan Medicine and a member of` IHPI. Co-investigator Carina Gronlund, research associate professor at the Institute for Social Research, is also a member of IHPI. 

   

• Clearing the Air: U-M and Okanogan Communities Take on Wildfire Smoke

  As climate change drives hotter, drier conditions, wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe, making smoke an escalating public health threat. Fine particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, affecting respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological health. By 2050, wildfire smoke could contribute to more than 70,000 excess deaths annually in the U.S., with global premature mortality exceeding 650,000 per year. Rural communities in the northwestern U.S. face heightened vulnerability due to trapped smoke from local topography, outdoor work exposure, and limited health care access, with poverty and other social factors amplifying risk.

  This research team is partnering with the Okanogan River Airshed Partnership (ORAP)—a coalition of tribal, local, state, and federal partners—to co-create practical resources for community response. Building on NASA-funded research, the team will develop a Wildfire Smoke Protective Action Guide for residents and outreach materials for policymakers, with U-M Stamps School of Art & Design students helping ensure materials are accessible and engaging. By integrating local knowledge with expertise across public health, environment and sustainability, nursing, psychology, and art and design, the project aims to strengthen community capacity, encourage adaptive behaviors, and provide a replicable model for rural areas confronting extreme wildfire smoke.

  The team includes members from the School of Public Health, Stamps School of Art and Design, School for Environment and Sustainability, School of Nursing, the Okanogan Conservation District, Methow Valley Citizen's Council and Clean Air Methow. The principal investigator is Simone Charles, a clinical associate professor at the School of Public Health and a member of IHPI. 

Other projects supported by Graham Institute grants include: 

• A collaboration to explore combining hemp with mycelium—a natural fungal network—to create durable and biodegradable materials for furniture, packaging and building components. The team includes members from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and Pott Farms. The principal investigator is Evgueni Filipov, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering.
   
• A collaboration working to clarify the challenges and opportunities for data center expansion. The team includes members from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute for Energy Solutions, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Center for EmPowering Communities and Upper Occoquan Service Authority.
   
• A collaboration working to develop guidance for building flood resilience with equitable green stormwater infrastructure policies and practices. The team includes members from Michigan Sea Grant, Center for Social Solutions and School for Environment and Sustainability. The principal investigator is Lauren Mullenbach, assistant research scientist at SEAS and Michigan Sea Grant.
   
• A collaboration to make opera productions more sustainable, both in terms of resources and the environment, without compromising artistic excellence. The team includes members from the School of Music, Theatre and Dance; School for Environment and Sustainability; and the Detroit Opera. The principal investigator is Sarah Oliver, associate professor of theatre and drama.
   
• A collaboration that will work toward developing sensors that can identify contaminated and misplaced items in compost, recycling and medical waste streams. The team includes members from U-M Health along with U-M Dearborn experts at the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Arts, Science and Letters. The principal investigator is Karishma Patnaik, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at U-M Dearborn.