Center for
Lifestyle, Environment, Epigenetics, and Reproductive Health (CLEERH) *

We support multidisciplinary faculty teams working on reproductive, developmental, and intergenerational health. Through a competitive preparatory grant program, the center helps teams generate preliminary data, strengthen collaborations, and prepare competitive proposals for major external funding. Priority is given to projects that link reproductive and developmental biology with expertise in environmental health, agriculture, public health, or data science.

We are building a coordinated research training pathway that spans undergraduate participation through doctoral and postdoctoral development. This pathway is designed to complement established WSU and college programs rather than compete with them. Undergraduates gain research experience through the STARS Accelerated Degree Program, the EschLEAD Undergraduate Research Program, and other established scholar programs. The center contributes research placements, faculty and near-peer mentoring, thematic seminars, and research support. We also offer competitive support for graduate trainees in affiliated laboratories, along with interdisciplinary mentoring, seminars, and works-in-progress discussions. Trainees can build skills in quantitative methods, multi-omics, grant writing, publishing, science communication, and responsible research practices, while gaining exposure to clinical, agricultural, public health, community, and industry applications.

We work with the college’s Community Outreach Hub, WSU Veterinary Extension, public health programs, and community partners to share research with the public. Faculty and trainees participate in College Day, public talks, and the Science Ambassador Program. The center also supports focused, community-informed pilot projects in preconception health, fertility, pregnancy and development, and intergenerational health.