معرفی
Ana Navas-Acien is the Leon Hess Professor and Chair of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. She is a physician-epidemiologist with expertise in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, holding an MD from the University of Granada, Spain (1996), and a PhD in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University (2005). Her leadership extends to multiple administrative roles including Director of the Columbia Northern Plains Superfund Research Program, Member of the Columbia Center for Environmental Health and Justice in Northern Manhattan, and Full Member of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dr. Navas-Acien's research focuses on the health effects of environmental exposures including metals, tobacco smoke, e-cigarettes, and air pollution. Her work investigates molecular pathways, gene-environment interactions, and effective interventions for reducing involuntary exposures. She serves as Principal Investigator for multiple major studies including the Strong Heart Study (cardiovascular disease in American Indian communities), the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy 2 (TACT2), the VapeScan Study (young adults in New York City), and India-FOCUS (evaluating risk factors for chronic kidney disease).
Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on environmental health impacts, particularly examining how metals exposure relates to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Recent work has expanded into e-cigarette safety, arsenic exposure in vulnerable populations, and the role of chelation therapy for metal toxicity. Her research consistently emphasizes reducing environmental health inequalities in underserved and disproportionately exposed populations.
- Dean's Excellence in Mentoring Award at Mailman School of Public Health
- Johns Hopkins Advising, Mentoring and Teaching Recognition Award (AMTRA), 2009, 2014
- Delta Omega Honor Society, Alpha Chapter, 2010
- Phi Beta Kappa, 2005
- Fulbright Scholar, 2001-2003
Dr. Navas-Acien leads significant research initiatives funded through NIH and other agencies, with particular emphasis on community-engaged research with Indigenous communities. Her work on the Strong Heart Water Study has developed interventions to address arsenic exposure in rural communities. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of Current Environmental Health Reports and holds editorial positions with Environmental Health Perspectives and Environmental Research. Her leadership in the field includes chairing the Kidney, Endocrine, and Digestive Disorders (KEDD) Study Section and serving on the Strong Heart Study Steering Committee.
Her research program spans multiple laboratories and teams focused on environmental exposure assessment, molecular epidemiology, and intervention development. The Columbia Northern Plains Superfund Research Program brings together interdisciplinary teams to address environmental health challenges in Northern Plains Native communities, while her work with the CURE consortium connects researchers across continents to address chronic kidney disease of unknown origin.
