UM Public Health Researcher Wins NIH Rising Star Award

MISSOULA – Ethan Walker, a researcher in the University of Montana’s Center for Population Health Research, has been named a 2026 “Rising Star” for his work studying links between air pollution and cardiovascular health.

The honor was conferred by the National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE), which is funded and supported by the National Institutes of Health.

The NISBRE Rising Star Award recognizes outstanding investigators who achieve independent research success and demonstrate strong potential for national leadership.

Dr. Walker’s research focuses on understanding the health effects of air pollution and developing interventions to reduce exposure and improve outcomes in vulnerable populations. He has produced new insights into how pollution infiltrates homes and influences blood pressure – findings that are especially relevant in the arid West, where longer wildfire seasons are increasing exposure to hazardous air.

“Particulate matter air pollution is a leading environmental risk factor for cardiovascular disease,” Walker said. “That risk is rising across the Western United States as wildfires become more frequent and severe. Older adults are especially susceptible, and this population is growing rapidly.”

He leads a program called AIRWISE – Air Improvement and Real-Time Monitoring for Wellness through Interactive Strategies and Education – which is an intervention that uses portable air cleaners to improve indoor air quality.

AIRWISE has features designed to increase consistent use, and key components include low-cost sensors that change color based on the Air Quality Index. Corresponding behavioral recommendations are tailored to different air quality levels.

“The central focus of the project is accessibility and ease of use – two critical factors for implementation in rural Montana,” Walker said. “The work targets a clinically susceptible population in a wildfire-impacted state and addresses ongoing calls for more research on wildfires and cardiovascular health.”

Walker is an epidemiologist who is part of UM’s Center for Population Health Research. This Center of Biomedical Research Excellence is supported through the NIH IDeA program.

“CPHR provided resources to hire Dr. Walker, as well as project funding and mentorship for his early research development,” said Dr. Curtis Noonan, the center director. “More importantly, Dr. Walker has demonstrated innovation and resilience in a changing funding climate, and I am confident that his recent accomplishments will propel him forward as an impactful NIH researcher.”

Noonan said Walker’s work reflects a UM commitment to addressing health challenges in the communities it serves. CPHR emphasizes place-based research, focusing on the unique environmental and population health needs of Montana and the broader region.

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Contact: Ethan Walker, associate professor, UM School of Public and Community Health, 406-243-2063, ethan.walker@umontana.edu.