SCEHM

Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine

Advancing the understanding of how environmental factors influence human health across the lifespan.

As genetic research continues to fall short in fully explaining disease complexity, emerging insights from environmental health science are revealing how stressors—from air, water, and soil pollution to hazardous chemicals, radiation, microorganisms, noise, extreme weather, and social determinants—impact physiological balance and can shape individual’s vulnerability and resilience toward disease.

These insights drive SCEHM’s mission to integrate environmental determinants into every stage of health research—advancing diagnostics, treatment strategies, and patient outcomes through a comprehensive, systems-based approach. This approach is grounded in cutting-edge mechanistic toxicology and accelerated by computational New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), providing a clear roadmap of the effects of environmental exposures on human health. Embracing a holistic view of disease, SCEHM is committed to applying this knowledge to enhance risk assessment, prevention strategies, and treatments —advancing the path toward precision medicine.

Research
Education
Outreach/ Community Engagement
Membership

Research Areas

Elderly woman holding brain symbol of missing jigsaw puzzle
Brain health
Close up colorful pills and capsules on blue background.
Metabolic Disorders
Hand functions governed by somatic nervous system
Brain-Peripheral Axis
Close up of woman touching her pregnant belly
Pregnancy
Antibody binding to human cell receptors
Immunology

Education

At UTMB, SCEHM members are committed to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians in the principles of environmental toxicology and the broader determinants of health. Through interdisciplinary coursework, including the Environmental Toxicology track, students gain the knowledge and tools to integrate environmental perspectives into their research and practice, preparing them to address complex health challenges across disciplines.

Class Of University Students Using Laptops In Lecture

Outreach/ Community Engagement

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Through initiatives such as Mobi-Coach, SCI-Cafes, BENCH Tutorials Program, and community partnerships, SCEHM is dedicated to promoting health and well-being beyond the lab. By engaging directly with the public, we work to share knowledge, build trust, and create healthier environments for the communities we serve.

Membership

Applications for SCEHM membership are reviewed on a rolling basis.


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