HERCULES Pilot Program Vision/Mission/Goals
The vision of HERCULES is to serve as an intellectual hub in the advancement and translation of exposome research to improve human health.
The mission of HERCULES is to learn how the exposome affects health and community well-being and use that knowledge to improve human health. That mission is achieved by activities of the Center that focus on:
- Innovation in the tools, application, and data science of exposome research,
- Promotion and growth of translational environmental health research at Emory and Georgia Tech, and
- Bolstering and expansion of partnerships with metro Atlanta communities to enhance their ability to assess their exposome and respond to their environmental health priorities.
Long-term goals:
- Advance novel research strategies, approaches, and tools to ensure that we continue to innovate exposome research and align with the strategic priorities of the NIEHS and stakeholders
- Enhance HERCULES national and global leadership in exposome science, environmental justice, molecular and mechanistic research, and climate and health — with the ultimate goal of research with demonstrated impact on communities, interventions, and policy
- Develop the next generation of leaders in environmental health research, community engagement, and communication to ensure the continued central importance of the environment’s impact on human health
- Advance our Center’s commitment to be anti-racist and ensure equity in its use of resources, support and recruitment of researchers, engagement with communities, and impact
Short-term and mid-term goals:
- Facilitate the examination of novel research hypotheses by providing financial, research facilities, and networking support for interdisciplinary collaboration and state-of-the-art science
- Recruit, support, and retain new environmental health scientists
- Grow the research base of the Center and the institution in environmental health by supporting services and career development opportunities aimed at improving success in obtaining research support
- Enhance connection and engagement between our metro Atlanta communities and HERCULES scientists and ensure that opportunities for HERCULES resources are accessible to community members
- Assess the impact of HERCULES at the institutional, local, regional, and national level and make changes necessary to ensure continued success
- Serve as a source of knowledge and expertise for environmental health and exposome research at the local, regional, national, and international level