New York University · Social ScienceHurricane Impact and Aging Lab
James P Higham · New York, New York
Research Focus
The research lab led by James P Higham focuses on understanding how natural disasters, specifically hurricanes, influence biological aging in free-ranging rhesus macaques. By examining the effects of hurricanes on these animals, the lab aims to uncover how social support can buffer against the adverse health impacts associated with aging, particularly following such traumatic events. The findings could help inform interventions for aging populations in disaster-prone areas.
biological agingnatural disasterssocial supportrhesus macaquehurricane impactaging processhealth interventionsanimal models
Research Aims
4AIM 01Quantify the effects of hurricanes on biological aging in rhesus macaques.
AIM 02Test if social support mitigates aging impacts from natural disasters.
AIM 03Compare biological aging across individuals impacted by different hurricanes.
AIM 04Assess the pace of aging in relation to exposure to hurricanes.
Skills the Lab Values
field data collectionmolecular analysisbehavioral observationphysiological measurementslongitudinal studiesstatistical analysisanimal handlingpost-mortem tissue analysisdata management
Output against the department
Publications331top 14% of dept.11th of 77
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations6.5ktop 34% of dept.26th of 77
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.