Peter James, ScD, MHS
School of Medicine
Environmental Epidemiology
NIH-Funded Research Improving Health Where People Live
At UC Davis, Associate Professor Peter James studies how the places we live, work and play shape our health. His federally funded research combines satellite imagery, street-level images, smartphone data and health records to understand how heat, air pollution, trees and neighborhood design affect brain and heart health. His work shows that trees, not just green space, are linked to lower risks of heart attack and stroke. This research gives city planners and policymakers the evidence they need to design healthier communities.
Helping Humanity
By identifying how everyday environments protect or harm health, James’ research helps prevent disease before it starts. Without federal funding, communities would lose critical evidence that guides tree planning, heat reduction, and neighborhood planning, leading to higher health care costs and more preventable illnesses.
"Without federal funds, we lose the evidence needed to prevent dementia and heart disease and we end up paying far more to treat them later.” — Peter James, ScD, MHS