Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Peter James, associate professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at UC Davis Health, studies how the places we live, work and play shape our health. His federally funded research combines satellite imagery, street-level images, smartphone data and health records to understand how heat, air pollution, trees and neighborhood design affect brain and heart health. His work shows that trees, not just green space, are linked to lower risks of heart attack, stroke and cognitive decline. This research gives city planners and policymakers the evidence they need to design healthier communities.
Learn more about James' NIH-funded work by visiting ucdav.is/FromLabs2Lives.
#OurUCDavis | #FromLabstoLives
Video description: Peter James speaks to the camera with a yellow and blue UC Davis mural behind him.
Peter James, associate professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at UC Davis Health, studies how the places we live, work and play shape our health. His federally funded research combines satellite imagery, street-level images, smartphone data and health records to understand how heat, air pollution, trees and neighborhood design affect brain and heart health. His work shows that trees, not just green space, are linked to lower risks of heart attack, stroke and cognitive decline. This research gives city planners and policymakers the evidence they need to design healthier communities.
Learn more about James' NIH-funded work by visiting ucdav.is/FromLabs2Lives.
#OurUCDavis | #FromLabstoLives
Video description: Peter James speaks to the camera with a yellow and blue UC Davis mural behind him.
