Dr. Bilinda Straight and Dr. Duy Ngo from Western Michigan University are investigating the effects of environmental stressors, particularly drought, on human adaptation and resilience in northern Kenya. Their study employs sibling comparisons and epigenetic analysis funded by the National Science Foundation. With significant challenges in data collection and advanced statistical methods introduced, the research aims to understand the long-term health impacts of climate change on affected populations while mentoring future researchers in this crucial field.
In an innovative collaboration, Dr. Bilinda Straight and Dr. Duy Ngo from Western Michigan University are examining how environmental stressors, specifically drought related to climate change, affect human adaptation and resilience. Their research spans from the drought-affected regions of northern Kenya to advanced statistical analysis in Michigan, aiming to deepen the understanding of climate change’s impact on vulnerable communities.
Dr. Straight has been engaged with the Samburu people of Northern Kenya since the early 1990s, where she witnessed the devastating effects of a severe drought in 2009. Observing the grim reality of livestock deaths during her fieldwork prompted her curiosity about the drought’s long-term consequences on health and development. In pursuit of this knowledge, she resolved to investigate the effects starting from prenatal stages, raising questions about how a mother’s experience during drought could influence her child’s growth and health.
Collaborating with Dr. Belinda Needham from the University of Michigan, they developed a research design utilizing sibling pairs, which was funded by a National Science Foundation grant. This approach allows comparison of siblings conceived before and after the drought, providing insights into environmental stressors’ effects on long-term developmental outcomes.
Gathering data in northern Kenya presented challenges due to vast, sparsely populated areas. However, the research team successfully collected extensive data, including demographics and epigenetic information. They also conducted in-depth interviews with mothers about their emotional and psychological experiences during pregnancy, adding a critical human dimension to the quantitative data.
The analysis of this significant dataset required advanced statistical expertise, which was provided by Dr. Duy Ngo, an assistant professor of statistics. Dr. Ngo implemented Bayesian statistical methods that incorporate prior knowledge, enhancing the analysis of this complex dataset. His collaboration with Dr. Straight creates a distinct synergy, effectively marrying statistical science with anthropological context.
Their research has already yielded compelling results, identifying notable epigenetic differences among siblings exposed to drought. This epigenetic analysis highlights how environmental conditions can modify gene expression, emphasizing its importance in climate change research. Furthermore, Dr. Ngo is mentoring students in analyzing and publishing this data, thereby training the next generation of researchers.
One of these students, Xi Qiao, made significant contributions with her dissertation focusing on Bayesian causal mediation analysis. Her work has been published, revealing connections between severe drought during pregnancy and accelerated biological aging in children. This research could have wide-ranging implications for understanding health risks associated with climate change.
Looking ahead, Drs. Straight and Ngo aspire to collect longitudinal data to further investigate the biological impacts of environmental stresses on children, particularly regarding their resilience in the face of ongoing climate challenges. They aim to explore whether early exposure to drought enhances or diminishes adaptive capabilities in affected populations. Such investigations will be vital not only for the immediate communities involved but also for global strategies in climate change resilience.
The collaboration between Dr. Bilinda Straight and Dr. Duy Ngo at Western Michigan University exemplifies the multidisciplinary approach required to understand the complex relationship between environmental stressors and human health. Their research, which includes groundbreaking epigenetic analysis and insightful statistical methodologies, aims to uncover long-term effects of climate change on vulnerable populations. The team’s ongoing efforts and mentorship of new students will ensure pivotal advancements in the understanding of climate resilience, directly addressing critical issues facing communities worldwide.
Original Source: wmich.edu
