Mapping health: Center helps communities find their way to improved well-being

Researchers at the Center for Spatial-Temporal Modeling for Applications in Population Sciences at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health go the extra mile to improve community health—sometimes literally.

Established in January 2023, the center analyzes data collected over long periods of time and across geographical locations to identify health trends or issues with health equity and access to care. Working with partners across many disciplines, they translate this data into meaningful public health interventions.

“We are probably the only group in Texas doing this type of spatial-temporal modeling,” says Cici Bauer, PhD, the center's director. “This is a novel, collaborative approach with wide-ranging applications. We always ask, ‘Once you have the findings, then what?’ We look for ways to improve a community’s knowledge and advance policy change.”

While their research is often published in academic journals, the center’s faculty seek ways to directly benefit local communities.

For example, Qian Xiao, PhD, MPH, joined a neighborhood walk organized by Harris County Precinct 4 officials to discuss the health consequences of exposure to artificial light at night. She led a series of NASA-funded projects, which used satellite data to study nighttime light exposure. The study revealed that the top 10 counties in the nation with the greatest increase in light exposure are in Texas, particularly in rural areas.

Given the link between light exposure and a higher risk of behavioral health issues, chronic disease, and even cancer, this information can help guide public health planning. Unlike past studies that often focused on a single environmental factor, the center’s research approach considers multiple exposures—such as artificial light, wildfires, smoke, and air pollution—to understand their cumulative effects on health.

In projects like this, center faculty create interactive dashboards and maps to make data more accessible, working directly with local officials who want to better understand how to protect their communities.

Another project, funded through the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute, involves tracking hundreds of pathogens and viruses in Texas wastewater and then using statistical analysis to predict surges in illness.

“When we spot certain trends, we let the community know so they can take precautions,” Bauer says. “We can also take a broad public health view to assess whether an epidemic is coming.”

The center has also developed a dashboard to identify areas in Texas at high risk for melanoma and another for regions in Massachusetts with elevated opioid overdose rates to help ensure that resources are directed where they are most needed. In addition to research and outreach, the center is advancing education in this growing field by working with postdoctoral and predoctoral students specializing in biostatistics, epidemiology, health promotion, and other fields.

Philanthropic support can significantly amplify the center’s impact by enabling more comprehensive modeling and data analysis for various health challenges or extending existing projects to provide sustained community benefit. This could include creating additional dashboards to raise public health awareness or ensuring the maintenance of current ones.

“Our faculty and statisticians take on extra work beyond their responsibilities because they have a passion and see the value of doing things outside the grant, but that’s not sustainable long term,” Bauer says.

With philanthropic investment, the center can continue to thrive, ensuring that communities receive timely, actionable insights that improve health outcomes and guide policy changes for years to come.