Grant for Christiani to Continue First Study of Its Kind in China

	David Christiani

David Christiani, professor of occupational medicine and epidemiology in the Department of Environmental Health, has received an award of $1,045,000 to continue his long-term cohort study with collaborators in Shanghai of respiratory health in Chinese textile workers. The study, begun in 1981, is among the longest in HSPH history. The project constitutes the first longitudinal cohort epidemiological study ever initiated in China.

The grant, from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, will allow completion of air sampling and medical assessments of study participants. Results to date have clarified exposure-related effects of dust and bacterial endotoxin in both smoking and non-smoking workers and have been useful for the development of protective standards for exposed workers, said Christiani.

Christiani traveled to Shanghai in November 2001 to organize this phase of the study and to receive an award from the Shanghai People’s Government Health Bureau for outstanding contributions to the health of workers in the city.

Christiani leads the HSPH Occupational Health Program and the Harvard Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health.

Hill Paper Cited by Journal

The paper, "Reproductive Mishaps and Western Contraception: An African Challenge to Fertility Theory" by Caroline Bledsoe, Fatoumatta Banja and Allan Hill, was one of four articles cited as "notable" among all articles published by Population and Development Review (PDR) in its 27-year history. Hill is Andelot Professor of Demography in the Department of Population and International Health at HSPH.

PDR is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal that is published by the Population Council, an international, non-profit institution that conducts research in biomedicine, social sciences and public health.

The paper was listed in an article of the Population Council’s newsletter Momentum, which was marking the Council’s 50th anniversary.

See http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/momentumanniversary.pdf for more information.

Blood Donors Needed

Brigham and Women’ s Hospital is looking for blood donors. All donors are encouraged to call the Blood Donor Center at 617-732-6620. Walk-ins will be accepted. The donor center is located on the main corridor called the PIKE, 2nd floor, across from the 45 Francis Street entrance (middle lobby). The center is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.