The Department of Housing and Urban Development is extending $2.5 million in grants to improve methods for detecting and controlling health hazards in homes. HUD established two new programs — the Lead Technical Studies Grant Program and the Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program. The $500,000 grant allocated under the first program will fund research to “provide health and housing professionals with knowledge on how to reduce the number of lead poisoned children.” The second program includes a designated $2 million that will go toward developing and improving low-cost methods to identify and reduce housing-related hazards, such as pesticide residues and asthma triggers. All applications for grants are due to HUD by June 30. Two awards will be made for the lead studies program, while three to five awards will be given out for the health hazards studies program. Write to Christine Ricciardi. Follow her on Twitter @HWnewbieCR.