NIH Opens Health Research Office in East Palestine After Train Derailment

The National Institutes of Health established a new health research office in East Palestine, Ohio, to coordinate studies on the long-term health impacts following the 2023 train derailment in the area.

The East Palestine Train Derailment Health Research Program Office began operations on February 3, 2026, at The Way Station on West Rebecca Street. This office serves as the central location for a five-year federally funded research initiative with a budget of $10 million.

The research program is managed by the University of Kentucky in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh, Yale University, and several local partners. Federal research experts are engaging with the community to organize studies and assist residents in joining federally supported health research activities.

Participation in the study is open to individuals who lived in East Palestine or nearby areas at the time of the derailment, as well as those who assisted with the response or cleanup. For participants between the ages of 8 and 17, a parent or primary caregiver must also take part in the study.

What the numbers show

• The research program is funded at $10 million over five years
• Participants receive $25 for a health survey and $100–$150 for clinic visits in East Palestine
• The office operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m

The program includes annual health surveys and clinical assessments, which cover health indicators such as liver and thyroid function, water quality, and the collection of biological samples like blood, urine, and hair. The study is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a division of NIH, and is guided by advisory and taskforce groups.

Residents who participate and provide samples will be privately informed of their individual results when they become available. Compensation is provided for various activities, including surveys and clinic visits in both East Palestine and Cambridge, Ohio.

The office is open to the public during standard business hours, providing a location for community members to enroll in the study and access information about ongoing research efforts. The initiative is designed to involve local organizations such as The Way Station and East Liverpool City Hospital/East Palestine Clinic.

Oversight for the research includes input from a Community Advisory Board, a Clinical & Public Health Taskforce, and a Scientific Advisory Board. These groups contribute to the direction and implementation of the study to ensure it addresses community health needs related to the derailment.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.