University of Iowa Launches New Program to Improve Health Outcomes for Iowans
The Iowa Integrated Network for Science, Information, and Geospatial Health Tracking (INSIGHT)
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 3, 2026
Iowa City, Iowa — A new University of Iowa research initiative is launching July 1, 2026, to study environmental risk factors and improve health outcomes for Iowans. The Iowa Integrated Network for Science, Information, and Geospatial Health Tracking (INSIGHT) program will produce scientific evidence needed to understand how environmental exposures affect human health, from the air we breathe to the water we drink.
Iowa is one of only a few states where cancer rates continue to rise; currently, Iowa has the second highest cancer rate in the country. Data gathered through Iowa INSIGHT will support epidemiological studies to establish associations between environmental exposures and adverse health outcomes, especially cancer, to potentially power future solutions and innovations. A generous $5 million founding gift from Sharon and Kyle Krause supports Iowa INSIGHT, which is a collaboration between the UI Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC) and IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering (IIHR).
“As lifelong Iowans, Kyle and I are deeply committed to seeing this state and its people thrive. That’s why we’re proud to partner with the University of Iowa to unlock critical research that will pave the way for solutions to address the health and well-being of both the environment and the people of Iowa,” said Sharon Krause. “By supporting this work, we hope to help generate the insights needed to drive meaningful change, inform future decision-making, and improve health outcomes across Iowa.”
Sharon Krause, co-founder of the Kyle J. and Sharon Krause Family Foundation
A supporting $1 million gift from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust will further strengthen Iowa INSIGHT’s commitment to understanding and mitigating health risks of environmental exposures, building toward a $10 million program.
David Cwiertny, the William D. Ashton Professor of Civil Engineering and director of CHEEC, will lead the initiative. His research focuses on watersheds, water treatment, and the movement and fate of pollutants such as pesticides and “forever chemicals” in the environment.
The situation in Iowa is complicated, Cwiertny said, and it will take careful research to untangle, but he’s excited to take on the challenge.
“There’s an opportunity here to make sure we can contribute to help Iowa, the place that we came to and never wanted to leave,” said Cwiertny, who moved his family to Iowa from California in 2011. “It’s very fulfilling.”
David Cwiertny, William D. Ashton Professor of Civil Engineering and director of CHEEC
Larry J. Weber is the Edwin B. Green Chair in Hydraulics and the director of IIHR. He has a long history of service to Iowans related to water resources, flooding, water quality, and watershed processes. Weber is encouraged by the impact the new program will have, securing a healthy future for Iowans to live, raise families, and to embrace Iowa’s varied landscapes.
“This program represents a bold vision for Iowa’s future — one that will deliver real, measurable benefits and improve the lives of Iowans for generations to come,” said Weber. “It is a privilege to be part of this collaborative effort to help reimagine a more sustainable future for Iowa.”
Larry Weber, Edwin B. Green Chair in Hydraulics and director of IIHR
Iowa INSIGHT will build on expertise at CHEEC and IIHR to close monitoring gaps for emerging environmental health threats. The program will work to identify the factors that influence cancer rates and other health problems, prioritizing maternal and newborn health, neurodevelopment, and autism-related outcomes.
Iowa INSIGHT will focus on four key areas:
Environmental monitoring: Leverage and grow existing environmental monitoring of Iowa’s air and water while expanding analyses to assess risks from emerging environmental threats.
Biomonitoring: Build expertise and infrastructure to measure environmental chemicals in human tissues or fluids, generating data needed to link environmental exposures and health outcomes.
Epidemiology and data science: Use data to conduct studies to establish associations between environmental exposures and adverse health outcomes, especially cancers, to potentially power future solutions and innovations.
Knowledge sharing: Raise awareness and motivate action among Iowans by making environmental and health data accessible online, while also sharing insights through public events statewide.
An advisory committee of nationally recognized experts in these areas will help guide Iowa INSIGHT, providing specialized expertise, objective perspectives, strategic support, and diverse viewpoints.
ABOUT CHEEC: CHEEC supports research to identify, measure, and study adverse health outcomes related to exposure to environmental toxins. Part of the UI Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the colleges of engineering and liberal arts, CHEEC focuses its efforts primarily on drinking water contaminants.
ABOUT IIHR: IIHR is a world-renowned center in the UI College of Engineering focusing on fluids-related education, research, and public service. The 106-year-old research institute is dedicated to advancing science and technology to provide innovative solutions to complex fluids-related challenges.
ABOUT THE KYLE J. and SHARON KRAUSE FAMILY FOUNDATION: The Kyle J. and Sharon Krause Family Foundation was established in 2012 to advance meaningful, long-term impact in the communities the Krause family calls home and serves. Building on decades of charitable giving, the foundation focuses on three core pillars: advancing climate action through clean air and water initiatives, reducing disparities and promoting equity, and increasing access to arts and culture.
ABOUT THE ROY J. CARVER CHARITABLE TRUST: The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust is one of Iowa’s largest private philanthropic foundations. Since launching its grantmaking activities, the Trust has awarded more than $450 million to support biomedical and scientific research, as well as K-12 and higher education, with a sustained focus on meeting the needs of youth. The Trust is dedicated to advancing research that expands scientific knowledge and contributes to improved human health.
