The annual Pilot Research Project (PRP) Symposium was held on October 8-9, 2026, in the University of Cincinnati’s Kettering Lab Complex. The symposium highlights pilot research projects in various fields of occupational health and safety. The symposium began with events on Thursday, October 8^th, including the undergraduate careers workshop, an Ethical Dilemmas in Industrial Hygiene workshop presented by Dr. Jay Vietas, National Safety Council, and a welcome reception on Thursday evening. Dinner was provided by Ollie’s Trolley. Thank you to the PRP Steering Committee members for your donations! Without generous donations, the networking dinner would not be possible.

On Friday, October 9^th, Dr. Gordon Gillespie, PRP deputy director and Chief Program Officer at the National League for Nursing, welcomed the attendees to the 27th symposium.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Warren J. Williams, CDC, Department of Health and Human Services. His presentation was called “Tackling the Problem of Occupational Heat Exposure: A Collaborative Effort” with the objectives of understanding the nature of physiological testing of PPE and value of collaborations. The presentation was a survey of the collaborative efforts from the foundation of the physiology lab at the NPPTL through the present and the value of these efforts.

Attendees watch presentations from 2025-26 awardees

2025-26 PRP awardees presented their final project results. Topics included;

• Between Care and Crisis: The Impact of Lived Experience on Mental Health and Suicide Risk Among Veterinarians
• Energy Metabolism and Bone Health in Race Riders: From Rest to Recovery
• Occupational Heat Stress: Comparing Subjective Symptoms and Physiological Signs
• Development of Metal-Composite 3D Graphene Sheets for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding in Occupational and Personal Environments
• Examining the Role of Social Support on Nurses’ Mental and Physical Health
• Extended Reality (XR) in OHS Training: Assessment of Aviation Worker Outcomes
• AI-Driven Assessment of Hand Activity and Force Using IMU-Embedded Tactile Gloves
• Assessing the Relationship Between Workplace Ergonomics and Respirable Crystalline Silica Exposure in Construction Industry Workers
• Assessment of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors as Predictors of Fall Occurrences for Patients in Long-Term Care Facilities and Home Healthcare Centers.
• Carbon-based Lead Composite as a Flexible and Lightweight Shield against Roentgen and Gamma Radiation
• Establishing a Risk Map Regarding Chemical Exposure for 3D Printing
• Evaluation of Emesis Containers with Integrated Air Filtration to Reduce Airborne Infections
• Occupational Exposure to Aircraft Exhaust in Aviation Workers and Biofuels
  

2026-27 PRP awardees present their posters for their project plans

2026-27 PRP awardees presented project plans in the form of posters as well as three other poster presenters that applied to present at the symposium. Topics included;

• Assessing Postural Stressors and Musculoskeletal Discomfort among Automobile Mechanics and Technicians.
• Academy Adaptations: Evaluating Health in Firefighter Recruits
• Occupational Exposure to Understudied Toxicants in Aviation Gasoline (Avgas) Combustion Emissions
• Wearable Cool Pants for High-Temperature Work Environments
• OHS Motivation and Error Performance in Aviation: A Cognitive Approach
• Changes in Self-Reported Vocal Symptoms Among University Professors Before and After a Teaching Semester
• Air Pollutant Emissions from Major Ohio Airports: A Comparative Analysis of the 2023 EPA National Emissions Inventory
• Assessment of Indoor Mold Burden in a Residential Setting using a Multi-layered Strategy: A Case Study
• Evaluating the Variance in Representative Wildfire Pollutant Deposition According to Lung Morphometry
  

Jessica Bloomer, program director at the University of Cincinnati ERC, announced awards; two for people’s choice favorite poster and podium presenters, two that a panel of judges selected for best podium and poster presenters, and the top three that participated the most in the event app.

The award winners were:

• Award for Distinguished Podium Presentation: Evaluation of Emesis Containers with Integrated Air Filtration to Reduce Airborne Infections, Subin Han
• Award for Distinguished Poster Presentation: Academy Adaptations: Evaluating Health in Firefighter Recruits, Kealey Wohlgemuth
• Award for People’s Choice Podium Presentation: Development of Metal-Composite 3D Graphene Sheets for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding in Occupational and Personal Environments, Ayush Raut
• Award for People’s Choice Poster Presentation: Wearable Cool Pants for High-Temperature Work Environments, Maliha Marzana
  

The symposium used the Whova event app which allowed for online networking, access to event resources, and a leaderboard contest that all attendees could participate in to win prizes by engaging in the app. The leaderboard winners were Peggy Berry (third), Judah Arnold (second), and Onyinye Ezeifeka (first). The symposium gave many attendees the opportunity to interact with each other as well as learn about new research areas.

Past symposium posters and presentation recordings can be viewed on the archive page.

OAOHN President Dr. Peggy Berry with OAOHN members and faculty attending the symposium

Thank you to the Ohio Association of Occupational Health Nurses for sponsoring the symposium this year!