NIEHS Spotlight Science Notebook

April 2012

GuLF STUDY marks recruitment milestoneNearly two years after the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, more than 10,000 cleanup workers and volunteers have enrolled in the Gulf Long-term Follow-up STUDY.

National Research Center honors BirnbaumNIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., will receive the National Research Center for Women & Families 2012 Health Policy Hero Award.

Sills elected president of the Society of Toxicologic PathologyWhen the Society of Toxicologic Pathology gathers in June for its annual symposium, its new president will be NTP/NIEHS pathologist Robert Sills, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Researchers call for changes in policy and reproductive healthcareIn a new clinical opinion paper, NIEHS- and EPA-funded children’s health specialists advocate for a proactive approach for preventing harmful environmental exposures.

The importance of calcium entry in mammalian reproductionA team of scientists from NIEHS and Penn is the first to show calcium ions entering the egg from the outside are needed for key events that propel the egg to the two-cell stage.

Reduced vaccine effectiveness tied to PFC exposureNIEHS grantee Philippe Grandjean, M.D., has shown that higher levels of exposure to perfluorinated compounds are associated with reduced immune response in children.

Hormones and Cancer highlights NIEHS/NTP paperThe journal Hormones and Cancer is highlighting a new paper by NIEHS and NTP scientists as one of nine available free at the journal’s website.

NIEHS and EPA convene leaders in children’s environmental health researchMore than 150 scientists, experts, and stakeholders involved in children’s environmental health convened March 6-7 on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md.

Grantee with Midas touch speaks at NIEHSWith an NIEHS Small Business Innovation Research grant, a company is developing equipment for extracting valuable metals from acid rock drainage waste water.

Science showcases grantee and NIEHS/NTP tox effortsA feature in the March 2 issue of Science, “LIFE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES: Animal-Free Toxicology,” highlights NIEHS/NTP predictive toxicology initiatives.

Video

NIEHS Spotlight Science Notebook

PEPH meeting strengthens community-engaged research networksThe two-day NIEHS Partnerships for Environmental Public Health meeting March 7-8 included a variety of activities designed to promote grantee interactions.

Korach receives Society for Endocrinology Dale MedalNIEHS senior research Ken Korach Ph.D., is this year’s winner of the Dale Medal, the highest accolade awarded by the Society for Endocrinology.

Lai discusses DNA methylation at WSA Scholars seminarNIEHS scientist Anne Lai, Ph.D., was one of three honored presenters at the 2nd Annual NIH Women Scientist Advisors Committee Scholars seminar March 2 in Bethesda, Md.

Early-life infection may lead to adult memory lossNIEHS grantee Staci Bilbo, Ph.D., studies the influence of the neonatal environment on the immune system and its impact on the adult brain.

Fire retardant study named paper of the year by ES&TAn NIEHS-funded study by grantee Heather Stapleton, Ph.D., was selected as top science paper of 2011 by the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Study suggests possible therapy for arsenic toxicityOne of the first large-scale genomic studies conducted in a developing country suggests a possible route for preventing disease in people exposed to arsenic.

Birnbaum inspires women with talks at TWU and UNCIn March, NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., was doubly honored as a role model with talks at Texas Woman’s University and the University of North Carolina.

Grantee recognized by WSUVeteran NIEHS grantee Michael Smerdon, Ph.D., received the Eminent Faculty Award during the annual Showcase celebration March 30 at Washington State University.

Guest speaker helps NIEHS gauge the potential of microbiome researchDevelopmental biologist John Rawls, Ph.D., spoke March 1 at NIEHS on the relationship of intestinal tract flora balance and risk of obesity, an important public health challenge.

Enthusiasm for science reigns at SOTThe cool San Francisco weather and heavy rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the more than 7,000 scientists who attended the annual meeting March 11-15.

Video

Video

Video

NIEHS Spotlight Science Notebook

NIEHS seminar encourages science outreachThe NIEHS Office of Science Education and Diversity welcomed Institute staff to Rodbell Auditorium Feb. 28 for a unique training seminar titled “Outreach 101.”

Seminar series marks ATSDR/Superfund collaborationStaff of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Research gathered Feb. 15 for a talk by NIEHS Superfund Research Program researcher Staci Simonich, Ph.D.

PEPH kicks off webinar seriesThe NIEHS Partnerships in Environment Public Health program presented the first installment of its environmental health and education webinar series Feb. 28.

This month in EHPThis month EHP takes on the issue of assigning actual dollar values to ecosystem services as a step toward better managing them and thus preserving human health.

High-throughput screening finds surprising properties for antioxidantsNIH researchers from two institutes and one center have demonstrated that some anti-oxidants damage DNA and kill cells instead of protecting them.

Wilson honored by Columbia UniversityNIEHS lead researcher Samuel Wilson, M.D., will present the 19th annual Granville H. Sewell Distinguished Lecture in Environmental Health April 18 at Columbia University.

NIEHS hosts annual meeting of Environmental StewardsNIEHS welcomed representatives of North Carolina’s public and private sectors to the 10th annual North Carolina Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI).

Small business explores new approaches in reproductive toxicologyNIEHS grantees Paul Turek, M.D., and Constance John, Ph.D., of MandalMed Inc., are developing a human-cell based testis model to study reproductive toxicology.

Adelman balances science and parenthood for NIH tenureNIEHS researcher Karen Adelman, Ph.D., recently received tenure for her work on how the environment impacts gene expression.

Video

Audio

Upcoming presentation on data integration at HHSNIEHS will welcome Todd Park April 5 for a presentation on the U.S. Department of Health Human Services Health Data Initiative.

Video

Inside the Institute

Spring cleaning day for the NIEHS lakeAlthough it wasn’t officially spring yet when NIEHS employees picked up litter around the campus lake March 13, it was a great time for a lakeshore clean sweep.

Extramural Research

Extramural papers of the month• Air pollution linked to cognitive decline

• Predicting sudden changes in pollution patterns

• Epigenetic interactions between flame retardant exposure and autism mutation

• Early BPA exposure and asthma development

Intramural Research

Intramural papers of the month• Researchers find novel binding target for rotenone

• Novel role for a DNA polymerase in repairing damaged bases in C. elegans

• (Bi)sulfite oxidation prompts neutrophils to produce free radicals

• Synthetic estrogen induces feminization in male mice via ERalpha

NIEHS Spotlight

Video

Science Notebook

Staff and grantees at upcoming workshopNTP Host Susceptibility Group leader Jef French, Ph.D., NIEHS grantees, and several NIEHS research associates will be among the presenters April 18-19.

Rodbell lecture to feature Keith YamamotoBiochemist Keith Yamamoto, Ph.D., will present the 2012 Rodbell Lecture, “Cell-, Gene-, and Physiology-Specific Regulation by the Glucocorticoid Receptor,” April 10 at NIEHS.

Conference explores best practices of community-engaged researchNIEHS co-hosted the South Atlantic National Research Conference, “Engaging the Community for Research Success: What Scientists and IRBs Need to Know.”

Calendar of Upcoming Events

• April 3 (offsite event), 1:00-2:00 p.m. — PEPH webinar titled “Examining and Communicating the Health Implication of Arsenic in our Food System,” featuring Margaret Karagas, Ph.D., and Laurie Rardin

• April 5, in Rodbell Auditorium, 10:00-11:00 a.m. — Seminar on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services technology, with Todd Park speaking on “The Health Data Initiative: Unleashing the Power of Open Data and Innovation to Improve Health”

• April 9, in Keystone 1003, 2:00-3:00 p.m. — Seminar on “Assessing the Impact of Research,” by Kristi Holmes, Ph.D., and Cathy Sarli

• April 10, in Rodbell Auditorium, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Rodbell Lecture with Keith Yamamoto, Ph.D., exploring “Cell-, Gene-, and Physiology-Specific Regulation by the Glucocorticoid Receptor”

• April 16, in Rodbell Auditorium, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Laboratory of Molecular Genetics Fellows Invited Guest Lecture, featuring Reuben Harris, Ph.D.

• April 16, in Rodbell Auditorium, 2:30-3:30 p.m. — Spirit Lecture, “From Stem Cells to Complex Patterning in the Embryo,” presented by Gail Martin, Ph.D.

• April 23-24, in Rodbell Auditorium, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. — NTP Neuropathology Symposium

• April 24 (offsite event), at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Research Triangle Park, N.C., 8:00-2:30 — Genetic and Environmental Mutagenesis Society spring meeting, “Emerging Environmental Issues”

• April 26, in Rodbell Auditorium, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Laboratory of Toxicology and Pathology Seminar Series with Michael Kasten, M.D., Ph.D., topic TBA

• April 26, in Keystone 1003, 2:00-3:00 p.m. — Seminar with Paige Lawrence, Ph.D., topic TBA

• April 27 (offsite event), at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Research Triangle Park, N.C., 7:45-5:00 — 2012 NIEHS Biomedical Career Fair

• April 30, in Rodbell Auditorium, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Laboratory of Molecular Genetics Fellows Invited Guest Lecture, featuring Kenneth Marians, Ph.D., speaking on “Mechanisms of Replication Fork Restart”

• View More Events: NIEHS Public Calendar

1

NIEHS SpotlightGuLF STUDY marks recruitment milestoneNearlytwoyearsaftertheDeepwaterHorizonoilspillintheGulfofMexico,morethan10,000cleanupworkersandvolunteershaveenrolledintheGulfLong-termFollow-up(GuLF)STUDY.

ThestudyisanationaleffortconductedbyNIEHStodetermineiftheoilspillledtophysicalormentalhealthproblems.Recruitmentcontinues,withthegoalofreachingtheGuLFSTUDY’stargetgoalof55,000participants,whichwouldmakeitthelargesthealthstudyofitskind.

“Tenthousandpeoplehavesteppedforwardtohelpfindanswersfortheircommunityandforthehealthconcernsthatlingeraftertheoilspill,”saidDaleSandler,Ph.D.,chiefoftheNIEHSEpidemiologyBranchandprincipalinvestigatorofthestudy.“IencourageanyonewhohelpedinthecleanupefforttomakethecalltodaytoenrollintheGuLFSTUDY.Wewanttoheareveryone’sstory.Everyoneisimportanttothisstudy.”

Formoreinformation,peoplecancallthetoll-freenumberat1-855-NIH-GULF(1-855-644-4853)orvisittheGuLFSTUDYwebsiteathttp://www.niehs.nih.gov/gulfstudy/.

A continuing presence on the front lines of the oil spillNIEHSwasintheGulfatthebeginningoftheoildisasterthatoccurredonApril20,2010,andofferedsafetytrainingtomorethan150,000cleanupworkers.Now,someoftheseworkershaveconcernsabouttheirhealthasaresultofparticipatinginthecleanup.TheGuLFSTUDYwasdesignedtoanswersomeofthesequestionsandwillgenerateimportantdatathatmayhelpguidepolicydecisionsonhealthcareandservicesintheGulfregion.Findingsmayalsoinfluenceresponsestofutureoilspills.

TheGuLFSTUDYstaffreachedouttothe150,000peoplewhotookthecleanupworkersafetytraining,butvolunteershavebeenhardtofind.Manyhavemovedtonewresidencesorchangedtelephonenumbers,sothestudyhasbeenusingarangeofapproachestoinvitepeopletojointhestudy,includingbillboards,radioandTV,FacebookandTwitter,andcommunitymeetings.Individualsmaybeeligibleforthestudyifthey:

• Areatleast21yearsold

• Didoilspillcleanupworkforatleastoneday

• Supportedthecleanupeffortinsomewayorcompletedoilspillworkertraining

Sandler and her team have held a string of community meetings in towns affected by the oil spill, in conjunction with media tours to raise awareness of the GuLF STUDY among people in the region. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

2

WhenvolunteersjointheGuLFSTUDY,theyareaskedtocompleteasurveyoverthetelephone.Mostparticipantswillalsogetamedicalexamathome,andprovideblood,urine,andothersamples.Whenthemedicalvisitiscomplete,participantswillreceiveagiftcardworth$50.

“Wearegratefultohavethesupportofmorethan100communityandprofessionalgroupsacrosstheGulfthatrepresentworkerswhobelieveintheGuLFSTUDYandwhohaveendorsedit,”saidSandler.“Thestudywasdevelopedtomakeparticipationaseasyandconvenientaspossibleandparticipationisconfidential.Weprotecttheidentityofeveryparticipant.”

GuLFSTUDYisaregisteredtrademark,heldbytheNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences.

Return to Table of Contents

National Research Center honors Birnbaum By Eddy Ball

NIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,willreceivethe2012HealthPolicyHeroAwardMay11duringtheannualawardsluncheonoftheNationalResearchCenterforWomen&Families(NRC),heldatthehistoricCosmosClubinWashington,D.C.KatharineWeymouth,publisherofTheWashingtonPost,willserveastheemceefortheprogram,whichisheldeachyearontheFridaybeforeMothersDay.

NotifyingBirnbaumoftheaward,NRCpresidentDianaZuckerman,Ph.D.,wrote,“We’dbehonoredtohonoryouforyouroutstandingleadershipattheNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciencesandtheNationalToxicologyProgram.WeareinspiredbyyourworkonbehalfofallAmericans,asgroundbreakingresearch,prevention,andinterventioneffortsmakeourhomesandcommunitiessaferacrossthecountry.”

Women at the forefront of public health and human rightsBirnbaumjoinsaselectgroupofinfluentialwomenwhohavebeensohonoredfortheircontributionstopublichealth,includinglastyear’swinner,MargaretHamburg,M.D.,commissioneroftheU.S.FoodandDrugAdministration;CatherineDeAngelis,M.D.,formereditorinchiefofJAMA;andtwomembersofCongress,Rep.RosaDeLauroandSen.ChuckGrassley.

Duringtheawardsluncheon,theNRCwillalsohonorwhatitcallsForemothers,influentialwomeninpublichealthovertheageof70,fortheirlifetimeachievementsonbehalfofwomenandfamilies.Thisyear’shonoreesareJoanClaybrook,formerpresidentofPublic

With her message of promoting environmental public health through translation of research into primary prevention, Birnbaum is a natural choice for NRC’s 2012 Health Policy Hero Award. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

3

Citizen;economistAliceRivlin;andBeatrixHamburg,M.D.,aleadingchildren’shealthadvocate.PrevioushonoreeshaveincludedEuniceKennedyShriver;DorothyHeight,anationalleaderinthecivilrightsandwomen’smovements;lawyer,administrator,activist,andauthorMaryFrancesBerry;andchildren’sauthorJudithViorst.

A mission of advocacy and educationTheNRCisdedicatedtoimprovingthehealthandsafetyofadultsandchildren,byusingresearchtoencouragemoreeffectiveprogramsandpolicies.Theorganizationachievesitsmissionbygathering,analyzing,critiquing,andexplainingscientificandmedicalresearch.

TheNRCCancerPreventionandTreatmentFundfocusesonpreventingcancerbyreducingexposuretocarcinogensandotherriskfactors,reducingtheriskofrecurrence,andimprovingthequalityofmedicalcare.Thegrouppridesitselfontranslatingresearchresultsintoeverydaylanguage,andthensharingthatforfreewiththepublic,themedia,opinionleaders,andpolicymakers.

Return to Table of Contents

Sills elected president of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology By Eddy Ball

WhentheSocietyofToxicologicPathology(STP)gathersinJuneforitsannualsymposium,itsnewpresidentwillbeNIEHS/NTPpathologistRobertSills,D.V.M.,Ph.D.,adiplomateoftheAmericanCollegeofVeterinaryPathologists,andfellowoftheInternationalAcademyofToxicologicPathology.InMarch,SillswhoischiefofNIEHSandNTPpathologyandtheCellularandMolecularPathologyBranch,waschosenaspresidentelectbytheSTPmembership.

“We[atNIEHSandNTP]havebeenhonoredwithmyselectionaspresidentelectoftheSocietyofToxicologicPathology,which,personally,isveryhumbling,“Sillssaidwhenhelearnedoftheelectionresults.TheSTP,whichconsistsof1,200membersinmorethan20countries,isanonprofitassociationofpathologistsandotherscientists.Itsprincipalaimistheadvancementofpathologyasitpertainstochangeselicitedbypharmacological,chemical,orenvironmentalagents,andfactorsthatmodifytheseresponses.

TheSTP’s31stannualsymposium,“MechanismsofToxicity,”willtakeplaceJune24-28inBoston.Featuredeventsincludeafreepre-eventNTPsymposiumJune23,aswellasanawardsceremonyandannualbusinessmeetingwhereSillswillbeofficiallyinstalled.

An active research and professional development agendaSills’researchactivitiesincludethestudyofmolecularmechanismsofcarcinogenesis,neuropathology,andtheinclusionofbiologic-basedinterdisciplinaryresearchinNIEHS/NTPstudies.

In conjunction with his interdisciplinary research activities in the NIEHS/NTP, Sills holds adjunct positions in pathology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

4

SillshasservedontheSTPExecutiveCouncilandeditorialboardoftheSTPjournalToxicologicPathology.HechairedSTPannualmeetingsessionsonthehumangenome,implicationsfortoxicologicpathologyandcarcinogenesis,andasessiononcellularandmolecularneurocarcinogenesis:toxicologicpathologyofthenervoussystem.Also,heco-chairedasessionoftheSTPannualmeetingoncancer,theScientificProgramPlanningCommitteeoftheSTPannualmeetingontoxicologicneuropathology,andtheInternationalLifeSciencesInstituteseminarseriesoncurrentissuesinneuropathology.

AlongwithhisaffiliationwithSTP,SillsisveryactiveinprofessionalorganizationsasamemberoftheAmericanCollegeofVeterinaryPathologists,AmericanAssociationforCancerResearch,andtheAmericanVeterinaryMedicalAssociation.HeistheassociateeditorfortheenvironmentalpathobiologysectionofthejournalVeterinaryPathology.Also,hehasservedonadvisorycommittees,includingthejointFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations/WorldHealthOrganizationexpertcommitteeonfoodadditives,InternationalAgencyforResearchonCancer,andU.S.FoodandDrugAdministrationadvisorycommittee.

Return to Table of Contents

Researchers call for changes in policy and reproductive healthcare By Eddy Ball

Inanewclinicalopinionpaper,NIEHS-andU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)-fundedchildren’shealthspecialistsadvocateforaproactiveapproachforpreventingharmfulenvironmentalexposures,byengagingreproductivehealthprofessionalsinpreventioneffortswithinandbeyondtheclinics.

PublishedonlineinMarchbytheAmericanJournalofObstetricsandGynecology,thearticlesurveystrendsinrecentreproductiveenvironmentalhealthscienceresearch.Thereviewconsidersthedevelopmentaloriginsofhumandisease,low-doseandcoexposuretoxicology,andepigeneticmodificationofgeneexpressiontriggeredbyexposuresduringwindowsofsusceptibility.

Theauthorscombinedfindingsfromwhattheydescribeas“thisnewscience,”tobuildacompellingargumentforconcertedactionbyreproductivehealthpractitioners,institutions,andprofessionalgroupstoimproveindividualhealthanddrivepolicychange.

Considering the rise in reproductive adversity linked to environmentTheteamsetthestagefortheiranalysis,byreferencingfindingsofincreasesinreproductiveanddevelopmentaladversity,rangingfromdeclinesinfertilityandfecunditytoincreasesinsuchchildhooddiseasesasautismandcertaintypesofcancer.Thescientistsalsopointtothealarmingriseinthenumberofobesechildrenandadolescentswhowillbeathigherriskfordevelopingdiabetesandcardiovasculardiseaseastheyage.

First author Patrice Sutton (Photo courtesy of UCSF)

5

“Becausetheseandotherbarometersofreproductivehealthandcapacityhavechangedatarelativelyrapidpace,”theauthorscontend,“theyareunlikelytobeexplainedbychangesingeneticmakeup.”Animportantcontributortoreproductiveadversity,accordingtotheresearchers,iswidespreadhumanexposuretoenvironmentalchemicals.Overthepast70years,therehasbeena16-foldincreaseinU.S.productionanduseofchemicalsthatarelargelyunregulatedanduntested.

TheresearchteamciteddatafromtheNationalHealthandNutritionExaminationSurveyindicatingvirtuallyallpregnantwomenhavemeasuredlevelsofawiderangeoftracemetalsandchemicalsintheirbodiesthathavebeendocumentedtobeharmfultohumanreproductionanddevelopment.Theseexposuresrangefromleadandmercurytopesticidesandendocrine-disruptingcompounds,andmanyofthemmayactsynergisticallytoimpairhealthandcausedisease.

Accordingtotheauthors,studieshaverepeatedlylinkedexposurestothesechemicalsandcompoundsduringcriticalwindowsofhumandevelopmenttoadverseoutcomesinhumanandanimalstudies.Theassociationsarestrongenough,theyargue,tojustifyimmediateprecautionarymeasurestoreduceorpreventexposuresamongvulnerablepopulations,suchaspregnantwomenandchildren.

Theresearchersalsopointtostatementsandrecommendationsbyprofessionalorganizations,suchastheNationalAcademyofSciences,EndocrineSociety,andAmericanAcademyofPediatrics,onthelinksbetweenenvironmentalexposuresanddisease,assupportfortheneedfortimelyactiontopreventharm.

Translating environmental health science into prevention“Obstetricians,gynecologists,andotherreproductivehealthprofessionalscanplayagroundbreakingrole,byinterveningincriticalstagesofhumandevelopment,”theauthorsconclude,“totranslatethenewscienceintohealthierpregnancies,healthierchildren,andhealthierfuturegenerations.”

Theauthorscallforchangesinpatientevaluationandeducationpractices,increasedadvocacybyprofessionalorganizations,andbetter-informedinstitutionalpurchasingpractices,especiallywithregardtofood,withthegoalofreducingexposuresamongpregnantwomenandchildrentoharmfulchemicalsintheenvironment.

LedbyseniorauthorLindaGiudice,M.D.,Ph.D.,distinguishedprofessorandchairofthedepartmentofobstetrics,gynecology,andreproductivesciencesattheUniversityofCalifornia,SanFrancisco(UCSF),theteamincludedresearchersinherdepartment,aswellasonesaffiliatedwiththeUCSFProgramonReproductiveHealthandtheEnvironment(PRHE).PRHEmembersincludedResearchScientistPatriceSutton,firstauthor;secondauthorTraceyWoodruff,Ph.D.,PRHEdirector;andthirdauthorJoannePerron,M.D.,apostdoctoralfellowintheprogram.

Lead researcher Linda Giudice was one of several clinician researchers involved in the study. (Photo courtesy of UCSF)

PRHE Director Woodruff is the lead on NIEHS grants to support research on the effects of environmental exposures during pregnancy. (Photo courtesy of UCSF)

6

AlsoparticipatinginthestudywerescientistsandcliniciansfromtheUCSFPediatricEnvironmentalHealthSpecialtyUnitandKaiserPermanenteNorthValleynetwork,andtheAmericanCongressofObstetriciansandGynecologists.InadditiontomajorfundingfromNIEHSandEPA,theresearchteamalsoreceivedsupportfromtheNewYorkCommunityTrust.

Citation:SuttonP,WoodruffTJ,PerronJ,StotlandN,ConryJA,MillerMD,GiudiceLC.2012.Toxicenvironmentalchemicals:theroleofreproductivehealthprofessionalsinpreventingharmfulexposures.AmJObstetGynecol;doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2012.01.034[Online8March2012].

Return to Table of Contents

NIEHS and EPA convene leaders in children’s environmental health research By Ryan Campbell

Morethan150scientists,experts,andstakeholders,involvedinchildren’senvironmentalhealth,convenedMarch6-7attheCentersforChildren’sEnvironmentalHealthandDiseasePreventionResearchannualmeeting,tosharescientificstrategies,discussnewresearchapproaches,andhighlightlate-breakingscienceinthefield.ThemeetingheldontheNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIHcampus)andsponsoredbyNIEHSandtheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),providedanopportunitytofostercollaborations,developnewpartnerships,andenhancetheoverallchildren’senvironmentalhealthnetwork.

Speakersincludedmanyleadingauthoritiesinthefieldofchildren’senvironmentalhealth,beginningwithNIEHSDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,andEPADirectoroftheOfficeofChildren’sHealthProtectionandEnvironmentalEducationPeterGrevatt,Ph.D.Together,theyopenedthemeetingwithcomplementarymessagesthathighlightedinstituteandagencypriorities.Birnbaumchallengedgranteestocontinuetheirrecordofsuccess,byexpandingtheirresearchandexploringotherexposuresanddiseases.

Otherpresentershighlightedresearchfindings,anddiscussedthechallengesofquantifyingexposurefromconceptionthroughchildhoodandlinkingthesetodiseaseendpoints.Theyaddressed

Perron, who has 20 years of experience treating women with reproductive disorders, has written about the effects of pesticides and air pollution on reproductive health and child development. (Photo courtesy of UCSF)

Birnbaum’s opening remarks brought the work of the Children’s Centers into context with the overall NIEHS environmental health mission. She took the opportunity to discuss and preview the Institute’s nearly completed 5-year strategic plan. (Photo courtesy of NIH)

7

topicsincludingassessinghowlifestylehabitsandcontaminantexposuresinparentsmayleadtodiseaseinchildren,andunderstandingtheroleofenvironmentinchildren’sairwaydiseases.Inaddition,researcherssharedwaystoimprovegeneticscreeningmethods,novelexposureassessmentstechniques,suchasanalyzingchildren’steethforsignsofmetalexposure,andtopicsthathavereceivedattentioninthenews,suchasbisphenolAinfoodcontainersandarsenicinriceandriceproducts.

Partnershipswithcommunitiesandnon-governmentalorganizationswereanongoingthemethroughoutthemeeting.Asessionincommunication,outreach,andtranslationdemonstratedtheimportanceofcommunity-academicpartnerships,toimplementchangethatcanimprovethehealthofcommunitiesexposedtoenvironmentalcontaminants.Achildren’sadvocacypaneldiscussion,featuringrepresentativesfrommanywell-knownorganizations,suchastheMarchofDimesFoundation,AmericanLungAssociation,andChildren’sEnvironmentalHealthNetwork,describedresourcesandexperiencesrelevanttoadvancingchildren’senvironmentalhealth.

Meetingparticipantsalsohadanopportunitytosharetheirresearchresultsanddiscusscollaborationopportunities,duringapostersessionandbreakoutdiscussions.Thesesessionstackledthechallengesofsharingenvironmentalhealthdata,usinggenome-wideassociationstudiesinneurodevelopment,implementingqualitycontrolstandardsintheanalysesofepigeneticmarkersinhumanstudies,andconductingchildren’senvironmentalhealthresearchindaycareandschoolsettings.

Kimberly Gray, Ph.D., leads the NIEHS Children’s Centers program. The centers focus on children’s exposure to environmental agents, such as pesticides, metals, air pollution, and endocrine disruptors. (Photo courtesy of NIH)

Grevatt discussed EPA’s priorities of integrating federal mandates with the best possible science, ensuring safe chemical management, and implementing effective community-based programs. (Photo courtesy of NIH)

Gwen Collman, Ph.D., director of the NIEHS Division of Extramural Research and Training, was also on hand to welcome experts from the fields of reproductive health, pubertal development, metabolism, early life exposures, and epigenetic changes, as well as key researchers in environmental technologies. (Photo courtesy of NIH)

Andrea Baccarelli, M.D., Ph.D., spoke about epigenetic mechanisms in relation to fetal growth and perinatal outcomes, cardiovascular function, obesity, and neurocognition. He is an associate professor of environmental epigenetics in the department of environmental health at the Harvard School of Public Health. (Photo courtesy of NIH)

8

Afullagenda,listofmeetingpresenters,andabstractsareavailableat:http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/events/pastmtg/2012/children/index.cfm

(RyanCampbellisacontractorwithMDB,Inc.supportingtheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining.)

Return to Table of Contents

Communications resourcesChildren’sCenterdirectorsandinvestigatorswereablelearnabouthowtomaximizecommunicationandresearchtranslationeffortsfromNIEHSandEPAexperts.

• ChristieDrew,Ph.D.,DERTProgramAnalysisBranchchief,spokeabouthowNIEHSmeasuressuccessbytrackingpublications,followinggranteecareertrajectoriesintheNIEHSCareerTracdatabase,andusingtheEvaluationMetricsManual.ThisinformationisusedtoinformCongressionalstaff,governmentmanagementstaff,andcommunities.

• EdKangoftheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison,andKellyWidener,assistantcenterdirectorforresearchcommunicationsfortheEPANationalCenterofEnvironmentalResearch,emphasizedtheimportanceofunderstandingtargetaudiences,increasingWebpagedevelopment,andwebinarparticipation.Socialmediachannels,includingFacebook,Twitter,andYouTube,werealsohighlightedasusefulcommunicationtools.

• MaryGant,NIEHScongressionalliaison,conveyedtheimportanceofworkingcloselywithCongress,andknowingitsstaffmembersandtheirpoliticalaffiliations.PerformingbackgroundresearchonCongress,tailoringbriefingstocongressionalstaff,andpreparingconciseandmeaningfulbriefingswererecommendedbestpractices.

The Natcher Conference Center on the NIH campus proved to be an ideal meeting location for the hundreds of scientists and other key stakeholders visiting from across the country. (Photo courtesy of NIH)

9

PEPH meeting strengthens community-engaged research networks By Dustin Russell

NIEHSPartnershipsforEnvironmentalPublicHealth(PEPH)granteesassembledMarch7-8attheNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH)inBethesda,Md.,fortheirannualmeetingtitled“Strengtheningadynamicenvironmentalpublichealthnetworkfortomorrow:Advancingsciencethroughcriticalreflection.”Thetwo-daymeetingincludedavarietyofactivitiesdesignedtopromotegranteeinteractions,fostergrouplearning,and,mostimportantly,sparkdialogueaboutissuesrelatedtoresearchtranslation,capacitybuilding,andcommunication.

LindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,NIEHS/NTPdirector,openedthemeetingbyemphasizingtheInstitute’scontinuedengagementwithcommunitiestoadvanceenvironmentalpublichealth.“Iamextremelysupportiveofallofouractivitiesthatinvolvethecommunity,”shesaid.“Wecannotdoenvironmentalhealthworkunlessthecommunityisinvolvedfromtheget-go.”

PEPHgrantees,includingPamMiller,founderofAlaskaCommunityActiononToxics,andSacobyWilson,Ph.D.,environmentalhealthscientistfromtheUniversityofMaryland,thentookthestagetohighlightcommunitypartnershipsaddressinghealthissuesrelatedtopopulationsthatareoverburdenedanddisproportionatelyaffectedbyenvironmentalcontamination.Presentersofferedmodelsforsuccessfulpartnershipsaddressingenvironmentalhealthconcernsinlow-incomeandminoritycommunities,theworkplace,andamongtribalpopulations.Theyillustratedchallengeswithintherealmofcommunity-engagedresearchandofferedinnovativeapproachestoresolvingthesechallenges.

Inadditiontotraditionalscientificandposterpresentations,themeetingfeaturedtrainingsessionsonPEPHevaluationmetrics,innovativeenvironmentalhealthoutreachtools,suchastheatricalperformances,materialsdevelopment,andahealthyhospitalsinitiative.

Breakout sessions highlight trust building, communicationNineinteractivebreakoutsessionsfurtherilluminatedimportantlessonsandrecommendationsonhowgreatereffectivenesscanbeachievedwithinthePEPHprogramandforcommunity-engagedresearchasawhole.

Lookingformorephotosfromthe

2012PEPHannualmeeting?CheckourFacebookpageat:www.facebook.com/nih.niehs

Myra Marie Tetteh, program coordinator for the Community Outreach and Education Core at the University of Michigan, is one of many grantees engaged in community outreach and education. (Photo courtesy of Liam O’Fallon)

Networking is a critical component of every successful PEPH meeting. Collman is pictured, left, with Marie Lynn Miranda, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan. (Photo courtesy of Liam O’Fallon)

10

Trustbuildingemergedasamajorthemeacrossthebreakoutgroups.Participantsidentifiedtheearlyinvolvementofcommunitypartnersasessentialtoensuringthatresearchersandcommunityparticipantshaveamutualunderstandingoftheprojectanditsgoals,aswellastherolesandresponsibilitiesofeachpartner,therebydevelopingagreatersenseoftrust.Inaddition,theformationofequitable,long-termpartnershipswasrecognizedascentraltofosteringtrust.

Multidirectionaleducationandtrainingsurfacedasasecondcentralthemeinthebreakoutsessions.Participantsnotedthatresearchers,communities,andInstitutionalReviewBoardsallneedspecializedtrainingtoimplementcommunity-engagedresearchapproachesmoreeffectively.

Participantscitedthevalueofcommunicationtrainingforresearchers,toequipthemwithknowledgeandtoolstoeffectivelyincorporateinputandcommunicatefindingstothecommunityinwaysthatacknowledgecultural,linguistic,andliteracyvariationamongcommunities.Similarly,communitiescanbecomevaluableagentsofdatacollectionthathelptodefineenvironmentalhealthconcernsinparticularcommunities.Attendeesagreedthattranslationstrategiesmustconsiderandutilizenewandvariouschannelsofcommunication,suchasmultimediaandsocialmedia,toamplifyenvironmentalhealthmessages.

GwenCollman,Ph.D.,directoroftheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining(DERT),closedthemeetingbythankingtheparticipantsfortheirenthusiasticparticipation.Shenoted,“PEPHcontinuestobeaparticipatoryprogramateverylevel.”Shealsosaidthatcommunity-engagedresearchwillcontinuetoevolve,asresearchersandcommunitiescometogethertoshareideasandexperiences.“Throughactivefeedback,”sheconcluded,“thepowerofournetworkcanonlyincrease.”

FormoreinformationonPEPHandtoreadprojecthighlights,visitwww.niehs.nih.gov/PEPH.

(DustinRussellisacontractorwithMDB,Inc.supportingtheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining.)

Return to Table of Contents

A popular component of the PEPH meeting was the option for participants to attend training sessions to hear about the latest evaluation and communication techniques. Kristi Pettibone, Ph.D., from the DERT Program Analysis Branch, facilitated a discussion about the new PEPH Evaluation Metrics Manual. (Photo courtesy of Liam O’Fallon)

Liam O’Fallon, right, is the lead for PEPH, which serves to foster dynamic connections on common approaches and strategies among environmental health researchers and practitioners. Pictured with O’Fallon is Jennifer Runkle, Ph.D., from Emory University. (Photo courtesy of Liam O’Fallon)

11

Korach receives Society for Endocrinology Dale Medal By Eddy Ball

NIEHSseniorresearcherKennethKorachPh.D.,isthisyear’swinneroftheDaleMedal,thehighestaccoladeawardedbytheSocietyforEndocrinology(SfE).Aspartofhisaward,KorachdeliveredanacceptancelecturefortheDaleMedal,“Estrogenreceptorinsensitivity:basicandclinicalconsequencesinhormoneandendocrinephysiology,”March20attheannualSfEmeetinginHarrogate,England.

InhisletterofcongratulationstoKorach,SfEGeneralSecretaryPaulStewart,M.D.,wrote,“Eachyear,theSocietyofEndocrinologyawardstheDaleMedaltoamemberofthescientificcommunityinrecognitionofoutstandingstudies,whichhavechangedourunderstandingofendocrinologyinafundamentalway.”

SfEcriteriafortheDaleMedalincludeaninternationalreputationinhigh-qualityscienceinhigh-impactjournals.Theresearchfindingsarealwaysofmajorsignificanceinatranslationalway,aswell,andtheawardeesareresearcherswidelyrecognizedamongtheirpeersforoutstandingresearchcapabilitiesofworld-classstature,recognizedandfrequentlycitedbyothers.

Contributions to the understanding of sex hormone actionKorachjoinedNIEHSin1976,wherehecurrentlyheadstheReceptorBiologyGroupinvestigatingestrogenhormoneactioninnumeroustissuesbythegenerationofestrogen-receptorknockoutmousemodelswithanapplicationtowardunderstandingthebasicmechanismsofestrogen’sinfluenceonphysiologicalprocessesanddisease.HeispastdirectoroftheNIEHSEnvironmentalDiseaseandMedicineProgramandcurrentchiefoftheLaboratoryofReproductiveandDevelopmentalToxicology,andamemberoftheSeniorBiomedicalResearchServicewithintheU.SPublicHealthService.

InadditiontotheDaleMedal,KorachistherecipientofNIHoutstandingperformanceandmeritawards,theMedicalCollegeofGeorgiaDistinguishedAlumnusAward,theEdwinB.AstwoodAwardfromTheEndocrineSociety,theKeithHarrisonLectureAwardfromtheEndocrineSocietyofAustralia,theTransatlanticMedalfromtheSocietyforEndocrinologyintheUnitedKingdom,andtheFirkinOrationResearchAwardfromtheAustralianSocietyforMedicalResearch.

AneditorandpasteditorinchiefofthejournalEndocrinology,KorachholdsadjunctprofessorshipsatNorthCarolinaStateUniversity,theUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHillSchoolofMedicine,andinthedepartmentofpharmacologyandcancerbiologyatDukeUniversityMedicalCenter.

AftercompletinghisPh.D.inendocrinologyfromtheMedicalCollegeofGeorgia,wherehecharacterizedbiochemicalpropertiesofestrogenreceptorsinthepituitaryandhypothalamus,KorachwasapostdoctoralbiologicalchemistryandFordresearchFellowatHarvardMedicalSchoolwiththelateprofessorLewisEngel,Ph.D.

Return to Table of Contents

Korach’s nomination emphasized the importance of his work with rodent models. “These models have completely transformed our understanding of the many and unexpected roles for estrogens, not only in female reproductive biology, but also that they have equally important roles in the male.” (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

12

Birnbaum inspires women with talks at TWU and UNC By Eddy Ball

InMarch,NIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,wasdoublyhonoredasarolemodelwithtalksatTexasWoman’sUniversity(TWU)andtheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHill(UNC).

BirnbaumspokeMarch1asoneofthreedistinguishedwomenscientistsmakingkeynotepresentationsbeforeanaudienceofwomenscientistsintrainingattheinauguralseminaroftheAnnStuartandRayR.PoliakoffCelebrationofScienceseriesatTWUinDenton,Texas.Thenextday,shereturnedtoChapelHill,N.C.,toaddressasimilargroupofstudentsattheUNCGillingsSchoolofGlobalPublicHealthCenterforEnvironmentalHealthandSusceptibility,asits2012WomeninSciencespeaker(seetextbox).

The future of environmental health

InhertalkatTWU,BirnbaumfocusedontheevolutionofNIEHSandNTPduringherthreeyearsasdirector,andhervisionfortheInstitute’sfutureastheworld’spremierresearchcenterfortheenvironmentalhealthsciences.

SettingthestageforareviewofemergingparadigmsintheunderstandingofenvironmentalhealthandexcitingnewdirectionsinresearchatNIEHSandNTP,Birnbaumchallengedheraudiencetothinkdivergentlyabouttheroleofenvironmentinhumanhealth,especiallyintermsofthedevelopmentaloriginsofdiseaseandthecomplexcausesofcomplexdiseases.

“It’snotenoughtosimplyacknowledgethattheenvironmenthasaneffectonpeople’shealth,”shetoldheryoungcolleagues.“Wealsoneedtorecognizethatouroldassumptionsabouttoxicantsandhowtheyaffectourbodiesarebeingchangedbymodernscience.”

Inspiring women at UNCInherpresentationMarch2atthe2012springseminarseriesatUNC,Birnbaumwovetogetherapersonalnarrativeonwork/lifebalancewithanoverviewofNIEHSandNTPenvironmentalpublichealthinitiatives.SpeakerstypicallygiveascientificseminartothelargerscientificcommunityatUNC,aswellasmeetinformallywithyoungfemalescientiststodiscussissuesrelatedtowomeninscience.

IntheinvitationtoBirnbaum,theserieshost,UNCprofessorReginaCarelli,Ph.D.,describedherastheperfectpersontorepresentandpromotewomeninscience.“Youhavebeensuchapositiverolemodelformeovertheyears,”Carelliwrote.“ItwouldbewonderfulformetobeabletoshareyourwisdomwithyoungwomenscientistsatCarolina.”

Birnbaumrosetotheoccasionwithatalktitled“YouCanHaveItAll,”tracingherscientificcareerfromitsrootsinmiddleschoolinTeaneck,N.J.,wheresheenjoyedthesupportofgreatparents,greatteachers,and,lateron,greatmentors.“Havingitallisaveryindividualthing,”shebegan.“Forme,it’sfulfillingmyloveofscience,keepinginvolvedwiththecommunity,andofcoursemyfamily.”And,sheadded,havingasmuchfunatitaspossible.

ThetalktracedBirnbaum’scareerwithfamilyandworkphotos,fromherhighschoolscienceprojectstohercurrentpositionasleaderofNIEHSandNTP,whereshetransitionedintothescientificsegmentofhertalk.AsshedidinhertalkatTWU,BirnbaumconcludedhertalkatUNCbyrecognizingRachelCarson,oneofthemanyremarkablewomenwhohaveshapedmodernscience.Carsonalsohelpedsetthestageforwomentoworktowardthegoalofhavingitall—balancingcareerwithfamily,community,andthesheerjoyoflivinglifeandworkfully.

Linked video:

Watch Women in Science Webinar featuring NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum (1:01:20)

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Silverlight

13

Understandingthatchemicalscanactlikehormonesanddrugs,todisruptthecontrolofdevelopmentandfunctionatverylowdosestowhichtheaveragepersonisexposed,andthatsusceptibilitytodiseasepersistslongafterexposure,Birnbaumexplained,hasledNIEHSandNTPintonewdirectionsofresearch.Shepointedtonewinitiativesintheareasoflowdoseexposures,windowsofexposure,advancedtoxicologyscreening,theeffectsofmixtures,routesofexposure,emerginghazards,humanhealtheffectsofclimatechange,disasterresponse,andclinicalresearchasthebasisforpublichealthandpreventionefforts.

Followingadata-richdiscussionofnewapproachestoenvironmentalpublichealthinnovativeresearchinitiativesandtheInstitute’sstrategicplanforthenextfiveyears,BirnbaumconcludedwithalookbackatRachelCarson,thewomanwhoseeloquenceinspiredtheenvironmentalmovementwithher1962book,“SilentSpring.”Birnbaumconcludedbysaying,“We’vereallycomealongway…womenandresearch.It’sbeenthrillingtobeapartofitall.”

Birnbaumendedhertalkwithacaveat—“Thedirepredictionofasilentspringhasnotcometrue,butthejobisnotyetdone.”

The Celebration of Science Series at TWUTheprogrambeganwithaforumwithstudentstitled“WomeninScience:ChallengesandPromises,”whichhelpedsetthestageforthekeynotepresentations.AlongwithBirnbaum’stalk,ShanaKelley,Ph.D.,aprofessorinthedepartmentofpharmaceuticalsciencesattheUniversityofToronto,addressed“UsingNanotechnologytoDiagnoseDisease,”andKimberlyOrth,Ph.D.,aprofessorinthedepartmentofmolecularbiologyattheUniversityofTexasSouthwesternMedicalCenter,explored“BlackSpot,BlackDeath,BlackPearl:TheTalesofBacterialEffectors.”

Aneveningreceptiongavestudentstheopportunitytotalkwiththeirdistinguishedguests.

AccordingtoTWU,theAnnStuartandRayR.PoliakoffCelebrationofScienceSerieshasatwo-decadefundingcommitmentforthedepartmentsofbiology,andchemistryandbiochemistry,todevelopasustainedprogramofpromotingandcelebratingthewonders,truths,andmysteriesofscience.

Theserieswasstartedwitha$200,000giftfromStuart,thechancellorofTWU,andPoliakoff,herlatehusband,announcedApril1,2011duringdedicationoftheleading-edgeAnnStuartScienceComplex.BothStuart,whoholdsaPh.D.inEnglish,andPoliakoffwerefirst-generationgraduatesofpublichighereducation,andbothoftensaiditwastheireducationthatenabledthemtopursuetheopportunitiesthatenrichedtheirlives.

Return to Table of Contents

Keynote speakers joined their hosts in the state-of-the-art 80,000-square-foot, $26.4 million Ann Stuart Science Complex. Shown, left to right, are Robert Neely, Ph.D., TWU provost and vice president for academic affairs, Stuart, Kelley, Birnbaum, Orth, and Richard Sheardy, Ph.D., professor and chair of the TWU department of chemistry and biochemistry. (Photo courtesy of Kristina Bowman)

14

Grantee recognized by WSU By Eddy Ball

VeteranNIEHSgranteeMichaelSmerdon,Ph.D.,receivedtheEminentFacultyAwardduringtheannualShowcasecelebrationMarch30atWashingtonStateUniversity(WSU).Smerdon,aregentsprofessorofbiochemistryandbiophysics,isthe12threcipientofthehighesthonorhisuniversitybestowsonfacultymembers,accordingtoaFeb.27WSUpressrelease.

Formorethan30years,SmerdonhasbeenanNIHgrantee,andhecurrentlyholdstwoNIEHSgrantsoverseenbyNIEHSHealthScientistAdministratorLesReinlib,Ph.D.,“RepairofcarcinogendamagedDNAinhumanchromatin”and“DNArepairinahormoneresponsivegene.”NIEHSfirstsupportedSmerdonasajuniorinvestigatorwithaYoungEnvironmentalScientistGrantAwardfrom1978to1981,followingcompletionofhispostdoctoralfellowshipinpathologyatWashingtonUniversitySchoolofMedicine.

“WeareproudtohavesponsoredDr.Smerdonforanyyears,”Reinlibsaid.“HeisashiningexampleofaninvestigatorproducinginsightsthatwillleadtoacomprehensiveunderstandingofwaysthatenvironmentalchemicalsorharmfulradiationattackDNAandourabilitytodefendourselvesagainsttheseagents.”

Smerdon’sEminentFacultyAwardisthelatestinalonglistofhonorsforteaching,research,andservice.SmerdonwaselectedafellowoftheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofSciencein2010,hereceivedtheScienceandEngineeringAlumniLeadershipAwardin2003fromSt.CloudStateUniversity,hisalmamater,andhehasbeenrecognizedseveraltimesforfacultyexcellence.In2001,hewasselectedfortheprestigiousNIHMethodtoExtendResearchinTime(MERIT)Award,aspecialawardofupto10yearsofresearchfundingtoselectleadersintheirfield.

InacommentpostedwiththeWSUpressrelease,formerSmerdontraineeFengGong,Ph.D.,nowanassistantprofessorattheUniversityofMiami,wrote,“IamexcitedtohearthatMickwillreceivethe2012EminentFacultyAward.InadditiontohisnumerousscientificcontributionstothefieldofDNArepair,Mickisalsoagreatmentor.Hewillcontinuetobeagreatsourceofinspirationforallhisstudentsintheyearstocome.”

Return to Table of Contents

Smerdon is a pioneer in the area of DNA repair and chromatin packaging. When he was a postdoc and junior investigator, his papers were among fewer than 20 published each year on the subject (see graph). By 2010, there were nearly 400 papers published on DNA and chromatin each year. (Photo courtesy of WSU)

15

Enthusiasm for science reigns at SOT By Robin Mackar

ThecoolSanFranciscoweatherandheavyraindidn’tdampentheenthusiasmofthemorethan7,000scientistswhoattendedtheannualSocietyofToxicology(SOT)MeetingMarch11-15.

“TheenergylevelatSOTwasveryhigh,”saidNIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.“Notonlydoestheannualmeetingprovideachancetohearandseethenewestfindingsintheworldoftoxicology,butalsooffersmanyopportunitiestocatchupwithcolleaguesandfriendsand,sometimes,youcanevenfindtimetomakesomenewacquaintances.”AsapastpresidentofSOT,Birnbaumiswellknownandapopulardrawatthemeeting.

A few highlightsNIEHS/NTPstaffledmorethan110science-relatedactivitiesatthemeeting,includingtalksandpostershighlightingnewfindings,symposia,keynotelectures,demosofdatabases,exhibitor-hostedsessions,continuingeducationclasses,andmeetingswithSuperfunddirectorsandgrantees,aswellassharedinformationaboutfundingopportunitiesandrecruitedpostdocs.

OneofthebusiestspotsatthemeetingwasthecombinedNIEHS/NTPandEnvironmentalHealthPerspectives(EHP)exhibit.InadditiontoitbeingthehubforinformationaboutallNIEHS/NTPprogramsandactivities,theexhibitservedasaplaceforattendeestogethands-onexperiencewithNTPdatabases.ScottAuerbach,Ph.D.,oftheNTPBiomolecularScreeningBranch,formallyintroducedtheDrugMatrix®andToxFX®toxicogenomicdatabaseandanalysistools,atanexhibitor-hostedsessiononMondaythatwasverywellattended.

Auerbachalsogavedemosatthebooth.LauraHall,AsifRashid,andHuiGong,fromtheNTPProgramOperationsBranch,presentedaposterandwalkedmanyattendeesthroughsomeoftheupgradesandnewinformationontheChemicalEffectsinBiologicalSystems(CEBS)database.“Wewereallverypleasedattheinterestshowninourdatabases,”Hallsaid.Asafirst-timeratthemeeting,shealsoadmittedbeingalittleoverwhelmedbythebreadthofthemeetings’offerings.

NIEHS Deputy Director Rick Woychik, Ph.D., welcomed SOT President Jon Cook, Ph.D., to the NIEHS/NTP/EHP exhibit. (Photo courtesy or Hui Hu)

When not giving talks or meeting up with colleagues, Birnbaum could be found at the exhibit catching up on emails. (Photo courtesy of Hui Hu)

Linked video:

Watch SOT President Jon Cook’s invitation to the meeting and hear his description of all it had to offer (02:28)

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Flash

16

AnotherhotspotatSOTwastheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining(DERT)researchfundingandresourceroom,whereCarolShreffler,Ph.D.,AnnetteKirshner,Ph.D.,andotherDERTstaffdiscussedfederalresearchfundingopportunities.AccordingtoKirshner,“Thegrantwritingbrownbagsessionwasabighitwithfirst-timegrantwriters.”

ThenumerouscontinuingeducationsessionschairedbyNIEHS/NTPstaffwerealsoverywellattended,rangingfromsessionsonharmonizedguidanceforriskassessmentandtechniquesforassessingchemicalmixturestonanotechnology.

Birnbaumcontinuedtobeahugedrawatallthesessionssheparticipatedin,especiallytheannual“MeettheDirectors”specialsymposium.SheprovidedabudgetupdateandspentmuchofhertimetalkingaboutthestrategicplanningprocesstakingplaceatNIEHS.Birnbaumsharedthestagewithleadersfromotheragencies,includingformerNIEHS/NTPleaderChrisPortier,Ph.D.,whonowheadstheAgencyforToxicSubstancesandDiseaseRegistry.

2012 award recipients with ties to NIEHS/NTP

• Grantee Donna Zhang, Ph.D.,associateprofessorinthedepartmentofpharmacologyandtoxicologyintheCollegeofPharmacyattheUniversityofArizona,istherecipientoftheSOT2012AchievementAward.ZhanghasmadeseveralseminalobservationsintheNrf2-Keap1fieldthatareestablishingnewparadigmsforunderstandingitsrolesintoxicology.Thisworkhasbeensupported,inpart,throughahighlycompetitiveOutstandingNewEnvironmentalScientistawardfromNIEHS,aswellasawardsfromtheNationalCancerInstituteandtheAmericanCancerSociety.

• Former NTP Deputy Director John Moore, D.V.M.,waspresentedthe2012SOTFoundersAwardinrecognitionofhisoutstandingleadershipinfosteringtheroleoftoxicologicalsciencesinsafetydecision-making.MoorealsopreviouslyservedasdirectoroftoxicologyresearchandtestingatNIEHS.

• Grantee and former councilor Martin Philbert, Ph.D.,deanandprofessoroftoxicologyattheUniversityofMichiganSchoolofPublicHealth,istherecipientofthe2012SOTPublicCommunicationsAward,inrecognitionofhismajorcontributionsinbroadeningpublicawarenessontoxicologicalissues,anddisseminatingthemessageoftoxicologyanditsimpactinoursociety.PhilberthasservedontheNationalAdvisoryEnvironmentalHealthSciencesCouncilofNIEHSandcontinuestoadviseseveralfederalagenciesonavarietyofissuessurroundingemergingnanotechnologies.

• Consultant Xuemei Huang, M.D., Ph.D.,washonoredwiththe2012Translational/BridgingTravelAward.Huangisassociateprofessorinthedepartmentsofneurology,neurosurgery,pharmacology,radiology,kinesiology,andbioengineeringatthePennStateHersheyMedicalCenterandPennStateUniversity,aswellasthedirectoroftheHersheyBrainAnalysisResearchLaboratoryforNeurodegenerativeDisorders.Sheisamemberofanumberofprofessionalgroupsrelatedtotoxicantexposuresand,since2007,hasservedasaconsultanttoNIEHS.Hall and her colleagues showed more than 50 people how to

use the CEBS database. (Photo courtesy of Asif Rashid)

17

SOT leaders among usNIEHS/NTPisalsoproudtohavetwoelectedSOTleadersrepresentingtheInstitute.DoriGermolec,Ph.D.,immunologydisciplineleaderfortheNTP,andMichaelWaalkes,Ph.D.,chiefoftheNTPLaboratoriesBranch,serveasSOTcouncilors.Bothcommentedabouthowpleasedtheywerewiththemeeting.

“NIEHSwasverywellrepresentedattheSOT,withwonderfulpresentationsfromthedirectorondowntonumerouspostdoctoralfellows,”Waalkessaidwithasenseofpride.“ToxicologycontinuestoshineattheInstitute.”

(RobinMackaristhenewsdirectorintheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

Return to Table of Contents

NIEHS seminar encourages science outreach By Ian Thomas

TheNIEHSOfficeofScienceEducationandDiversity(OSED)welcomedInstitutestafftoRodbellAuditoriumFeb.28forauniquetrainingseminartitled“Outreach101.”FeaturingkeypresentersfromtheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison(OCPL),theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),andtheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHill(UNC),thethree-houreventtreatedattendeestoanumberoffunandinteractivetechniquesdesignedtoenhanceinterestinscienceeducation.

“Alotofpeoplestilldon’tknowwhatenvironmentalhealthscienceis,”saidErickaReid,Ph.D.,theOSEDleadspecialistforeducationoutreachanddiversity.“Whetherit’sthroughbasicoutreachatamiddleschoolsciencefairoraformalpresentationatanationalresearchconference,thejobofourofficeistoworkwiththepublictoteachthemhowtheiroverallhealthisdirectlylinkedtotheworldaroundthem.”

AstheNIEHSprimaryoutreacharmforscienceeducationinthelocal,state,andnationalcommunities,OSEDcontinuallypartnerswithstudents,teachers,parents,andfellowscientiststoraiseawarenessabouttheInstituteanditsmission.

The database demos were quite popular. Auerbach was kept busy throughout the conference. (Photo courtesy of Denise Lasko)

Reid emphasized the importance of communicating the environmental health paradigm and the effects that the many components of the environment have on human health, as well as tailoring the message to the diverse audiences that OSED targets. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

18

The interactive keyAcommonthemethroughouttheafternoonwasthenotionofaninteractiveeducationalexperiencebetweenstudentsandthosewhoconductoutreach.

“Asanyonewhohaseversteppedfootintoaclassroomknows,youcan’tjustwalkinandlecture,”explainedKellyLeovic,manageroftheEPAScience,Technology,Engineering,andMath(STEM)andenvironmentaloutreachprogramsinResearchTrianglePark,N.C.“Whetherit’sbyusinggames,educationaldemonstrations,orjustsomereallycoolprops,youhavetohavehands-onactivitiesinordertogetstudentsengagedinlearning.”

“Competitionsarealwaysagreatwaytogetpeopletoplugin,particularlywhenyou’redealingwithkidsinmiddleandhighschool,”addedRachelClark,Leovic’scolleagueatEPAwholedaquickroundofEnvironmentalJeopardyforthecrowdinattendance.

A message of clarityInadditiontofosteringmoreinteractionamongstudents,teachers,andadministrators,attendeesalsolearnedthevalueofconveyingtheirmessagewithnotonlyclarity,butsimplicity.

“Asscientists,it’sveryeasyforustoconfusepeoplewiththesameterminologyandconceptsweusearoundourpeers,”saidDanaHaine,K-12scienceeducationmanageroftheEnvironmentalResourceProgramatUNC.“That’swhyit’scrucialforus,asscientistsandeducators,toknowouraudience,sothatwecantailorourmessageinawaythateveryonecanunderstand.”

WhileHaineemphasizedtheimportanceofmessageclaritywithregardtothespokenword,EdKangofOCPLstressedtheneedforitwiththewrittenwordaswell.

“Ascommunicators,weusewordsthathavemeaningforouraudience,”saidKang.“Whetherwe’recraftingaresearchpaperorwritinganemailtoafriend,it’simportantthatwethinkaboutnotonlywhatwewanttosay,butwhowewanttosayitto,inordertoensurethatthekeypointsofourmessageareunderstood.”

A partnership for success“Ultimately,environmentalhealthoutreachhastobeatwo-wayconversation,notaone-sidedlecture,”explainedJohnSchelp,OSEDspecialassistantforcommunityengagementandoutreach.“Thatmeansworkingwithourpartnersinthecommunitytofindoutwhattheyneedandhowtheyneedit,because,intheend,we’realljusttryingtohelppeoplelivehealthierlives.”

Schelp’s focus in outreach is community engagement, especially at meetings of the NIEHS Public Interest Partners and at community forums. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Along with talks by outreach specialists, the program included small working groups. Michelle Heacock, Ph.D., left, one of several NIEHS trainees involved in education and outreach, talked with Debbie Wilson, coordinator of the NIH Summer Internship Program at NIEHS. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

19

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaisonandaregularcontributortotheEnvironmentalFactor.)

Return to Table of Contents

Seminar series marks ATSDR/Superfund collaboration By Rebecca Wilson

Morethan50staffmembersfromtheAgencyforToxicSubstancesandDiseaseRegistry(ATSDR)gatheredFeb.15inAtlanta,andonline,forapresentationbyStaciSimonich,Ph.D.Simonich,anNIEHS-fundedSuperfundResearchProgram(SRP)researcher,sharedfindingsfromherworktrackingairpollutionfromChinatothewestcoastoftheUnitedStates.

As part of their outreach efforts, Clark, above, and Leovick coordinate the EPA-RTP Speakers Bureau, a database organizations can search to find and request speakers on a wide variety of environmental science and related topics. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Bono Sen, Ph.D., science education and outreach program manager for the NIEHS journal Environmental Health Perspectives, has drawn upon the talents of NIEHS postdoctoral fellows for staffing workshops for teachers and high school students. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Outreach 101 presenters

• Kelly Leovic, EPA “DevelopinganEffectiveandSustainableOutreachProgram:BestPractices”

• Dana Haine, UNC “EffectiveCommunicationStrategies:TheSpokenWord”

• Rachel Clark, EPA “K-12Classroom:EngagingYourAudience”

• Ed Kang, NIEHS “EffectiveCommunicationStrategies:TheWrittenWord”

C e n t e r s f o r D i s e a s e C o n t r o l a n d P r e v e n t i o n

20

Simonich’spresentationwasthelatestinaseminarseriesthatconnectsSRPresearcherswithgovernmentregulatorsandresearchersinsisteragenciesoftheU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices(HHS).

ATSDRisaunitoftheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC).LikeNIEHS,whichisoneof27institutesandcentersoftheNationalInstitutesofHealth,ATSDRandCDCarepartofHHS.

Simonich’stalk,“WhatGoesAroundComesAround:ChasingPolycyclicAromaticHydrocarbonsfromtheBeijingOlympicstotheU.S.WestCoast,”detailedsourcesandenvironmentaldetectionmethodsformorethan150polycyclicaromatichydrocarbons(PAHs),anairbornecontaminantofmajorimportanceinATSDRfieldwork.Afterherpresentation,SimonichreceivedatouroftheATSDRfacility,metwithairbornecontaminationexpertsabouttheirresearchneeds,anddiscussedopportunitiesforcollaboration.

Forming interagency partnerships to advance public healthTheSRPATSDRseminarseriesbeganin2007,whenUniversityofNorthCarolinaatChapelHillSRPresearcherFrederickPfaender,Ph.D.,wasinvitedtoATSDRtogiveaseminarabouttherolebioavailabilityplaysindeterminingpollutantexposure.Thepresentationwassowellreceivedthatotherresearcherswereinvitedtopresentin2008,andaserieswaslaunched.Sincethen,16investigatorshavepresentedtheirresearchtoanever-growingaudienceofregulatorsandresearchers.

“TheSRPseminarseriesatATSDRhasbecomeasignaturecommunicationtoolthatprovidesSRPgranteesawindowintotheATSDRandanunderstandingofthechallengesitfaces,”saidBethAnderson,programanalystfortheSRP.“Atthesametime,itisavenuetoadvancetheuseandutilityoftheSRPresearchfindings.ItisanicematchforboththeSRPandtheATSDR.”

SRPresearchersreportthattheyhavebenefitedfromgivingseminars,aswell.“Iverymuchenjoyedmyconversationsduringmyvisit,”saidKellyPennell,Ph.D.,ofher2011visitandpresentation.“Ifeltlikeitbroughtsomepracticalaspectstomyresearch.”Pennell,aresearcherattheUniversityofMassachusettsDartmouth,researcheshowgaseouspollutantsseepintobuildingsandpollutetheairinside.

Theseseminarshavealsoledtolong-termcollaborations.ClementFurlong,Ph.D.,oftheUniversityofWashington,presentedhisresearchabouttheneurologicaleffectsofexposuretoorganophosphatesin2008.Organophosphatesarefoundinpesticidesusedincommercialfarmingpractices,andexposuretothemcancauseneurologicaldamage.TheseminarallowedFurlongtocollaboratewithscientistsatATSDRandtheynowworktogethertodevelopbiomarkerstotestforexposure.Onebiomarkerassayhasbeencreatedandthreemoreareunderdevelopment.Furlongsaidtheyplantocollaborateonaposter,presentingtheirresearchataconferencethissummer.

Anadditionalseminarisplannedforthefallof2012.AbstractsfrompreviousseminarsareavailableontheSRP/ATSDRseminarseriesWebpage.

(RebeccaWilsonisanenvironmentalhealthinformationspecialistforMDB,Inc.,acontractorfortheNIEHSSuperfundResearchProgramandWorkerEducationandTrainingProgram.)

Return to Table of Contents

Simonich holds a joint appointment in the department of chemistry and department of environmental and molecular toxicology at Oregon State University, where she heads a research lab supported by NIEHS SRP funding. (Photo courtesy of Oregon State University)

21

NIEHS hosts annual meeting of Environmental Stewards By Ian Thomas

NIEHSwelcomedkeyrepresentativesofNorthCarolina’spublicandprivatesectorstoRodbellAuditoriumMarch23forthe10thannualconveningofthestate’sEnvironmentalStewardshipInitiative(ESI)members.Launchedin2002bytheN.C.DepartmentofEnvironmentandNaturalResources(NCDENR),ESIisavoluntaryprogramdesignedtofosterpartnershipsamongthegovernmentandbusinesscommunities,topromotethestate’soverallcommitmenttoenvironmentalsustainability.

“OurmissionhereatNIEHSsharessomeverycommon,fundamentalgoalswiththeESIprogram,”explainedScottMerkle,headoftheNIEHSHealthandSafetyBranch.“Preservingandprotectingpublichealthisoneofthemainpillarsofenvironmentalstewardshipandweseethatlink,firsthand,everydayintheresearchthatweconduct.”

A unified forum for innovationThroughouttheday,attendeestookpartinanumberoftestimonials,talks,andinteractivepanels,designedtostimulatediscussiononanumberofkeyenvironmentalissues,suchaspolicyandlegislation,techniquesforbuildingsustainabilitypractices,andgreentechnology.

“Environmentalstewardshipbecomesarealchallengeonceyou’vebeenatitawhile,”saidRaymondPriceofSmithfieldFoods,along-timeESIsteward.“Everybodyknowsaboutrecyclingandcomposting,butoncethatlow-hangingfruitisgone,it’smeetingslikethesethathelpusgeneratenewideasforkeepingthatforwardmomentumofprogress.”

DanMilleroftheU.S.Navy’sFleetReadinessCenterEastinCherryPoint,N.C.agreed.

“ESImembershipofferscompaniestheuniqueopportunitytobepartofanestablishedsystemoflike-mindedorganizations,allofwhompooltheirideasandresourcesforthecollectivebettermentofeveryoneinvolved,”saidMiller.

Speaking the languageWhileacommonthemeofthisyear’smeetingwasadvocatingenvironmentalstewardshipforthesakeofprotectingtheenvironmentitself,anotherthemefocusedonshowingbusinessesandcorporationswhythingslikeenergyreduction,pollutionprevention,waterconservation,andwasteeliminationmakesmartfinancialsense,aswell.

2012 marked the 10th anniversary of the ESI. (Photo courtesy Steve McCaw)

Merkle discusses the numerous benefits NIEHS has gained from its six-year participation in ESI. (Photo courtesy Steve McCaw)

22

“Tenyearsago,theoriginalgoalofESIwastosimplyhelppeopletakethejourneyfromnoncompliance,tocompliance,tobeyondcompliance,withregardtotheirbusinesspractices,”saidBillRoss,formersecretaryforNCDENR,whonowworksasanenvironmentalconsultantintheprivatesector.“However,today,partofenvironmentalstewardshipislearninghowtospeakthelanguageofbusiness.Asageneralrule,ifyoucanshowsomeonehowintegratingcertainpracticesintotheirbusinessmodelcanimpacttheirbottomline,they’llusuallylistentowhatyouhavetosay.”

Building a connection“Attheendoftheday,sustainabilityandstewardshipisaboutalotmorethanfacilities,animalwelfare,orwaterconservation,”addedPrice.“It’saboutbuildingpartnershipsinourcommunitiesandrecognizingthatwe’reallconnectedtothesameenvironment.ThejoyofprogramslikeESIisthattheyconstantlyprovideuswithnewwaysandinsightsonhowbesttodothat.”

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaisonandaregularcontributortotheEnvironmentalFactor.)

Return to Table of Contents

Adelman balances science and parenthood for NIH tenure By Ian Thomas

NIEHSleadresearcherKarenAdelman,Ph.D.,wasawardedtheprestigioushonoroftenurebytheNIHCentralTenureCommittee,forherexemplaryworkwiththeLaboratoryofMolecularCarcinogenesis.AnativeofBuffalo,N.Y.,AdelmanwasoneofeightrecentlytenuredNIHscientiststoberecognizedintheMarch-April2012issueoftheNIHCatalyst.

“Ican’tsayenoughwonderfulthingsaboutmylabmembersandthepeopleatNIEHS,”saidAdelman.“FromthemomentIarrivedhere,everyone,fromtheDirectorondown,hasshowntremendoussupportformyworkandtheideasIwaspassionateabout.”

Attendees listen to testimonials from ESI stewards and discuss their own experiences with sustainability practices. (Photo courtesy Steve McCaw)

Ross, right, leads attendees in an ESI rendition of the North Carolina toast. (Photo courtesy Steve McCaw)

23

TheNIHtenuretrackprocessinvolvestherigorousevaluationofanintramuralscientistandtheirwork,inordertodeterminetheiroverallworthinessofthelong-termsalary,personnel,andresourcecommitmentthataccompaniesthetenureappointment.

A well-traveled careerHavingearnedherPh.D.inmolecularandcellulargeneticsfromtheUniversitedeParisVI,Adelmanspent5yearsasapostdoctoralresearcheratCornellUniversity,beforearrivingatNIEHSin2005.AsheadoftheNIEHSTranscriptionalResponsestotheEnvironmentGroup,sheandherteamstudytheenvironment’simpactongeneexpressioninDrosophila,orfruitflies,andmice.

“We’velearnedalotaboutthevariousmechanismsofdevelopmentandimmuneresponsebystudyingtheseareasintheflysystem,”explainedAdelman.“Nowthechallengecomesinshiftingthoseexperimentstowardthemammalianmodeland,therefore,thatmuchclosertohumanapplication.”

Throughouthercareer,Adelmanhasbeenrecognizedwithanumberofawards,includingthe2006RisingStarEarlyCareerAwardanda2010NIHDirector’sAward.

A focus on familyInadditiontoherdutiesasafull-timescientist,Adelmanhasalsomanagedtobalancetheresponsibilitiesofahomelife.Asthemotheroftwoyoungchildren,shenotesthateffectivetimemanagementskillshavebeencrucialtohersuccesswithbothroles.

“Bedtimeisawonderfulthing,”Adelmanjoked.“AnothernicethingaboutworkinghereattheInstituteisthatthey’reprettyflexiblewithmytimeand,asamom,youcangetalotofworkdonebetweenthehoursof8:00p.m.andmidnight.”

Still,Adelmanisquicktopointoutthatnoneofitwouldbepossiblewithouthelponthehomefront.

“Myhusbandisaphenomenalpartner,”sheadded.“Wedoeverythingasateamandthat’sbeenahugesupporterinallowingmetopursuemycareer.There’snowayIcouldpullanyofthisoffwithouthim.”

Balancing the futureWiththetenure-trackbehindher,Adelmanisexcitedforthechallengesthatlayahead,aswellastheresearchbenefitsandfreedomsthatcomewithtenure.However,proudasshemaybeofhercareer,Adelmanfreelyadmitsthat,forher,truehappinesscomesfromnotonlysuccessonthebench,butalsoathome.

“I’msoincrediblythankfultohavehadthekindofcareerinsciencethatI’veenjoyed,butstillhavesuchawonderfulfamilytocomehometo,”saidAdelman.“It’sbeenanincrediblechallengetobalancethosetwoaspectsofmylifebut,difficultasthatisattimes,it’salldoableifyou’recommittedtomakingitwork.”

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistfortheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaisonandaregularcontributortotheEnvironmentalFactor.)

Return to Table of Contents

In her spare time, Adelman is an avid hiker and amateur photographer. (Photo courtesy Steve McCaw)

24

Upcoming presentation on data integration at HHS By Eddy Ball

NIEHSwillwelcomeToddParkApril5forapresentationontheU.S.DepartmentofHealthHumanServices(HHS)HealthDataInitiative.Park,whohasservedasHHSchieftechnologyofficersince2009andwasappointedU.S.ChiefTechnologyOfficerinMarch,willgiveatalktitled“TheHealthDataInitiative:UnleashingthePowerofOpenDataandInnovationtoImproveHealth”beginningat10:00a.m.inRodbellAuditorium.

ParkwilldiscusstherapidgrowthandsuccessoftheHealthDataInitiativeinmakingthetrovesofdataavailableatHHSmuchmoreaccessibletothepublic,puttingitinthehandsofinnovatorsacrossthecountrywhohavedevelopednovelandpowerfulapplicationsforservingmillionsofAmericans.Theinitiativemaintainsaconstantlyevolving,centralizedHealth.Data.govplatformfordeliveringnewdatasetsandtools,alongwithsupportingacommunityofdatausersandprovidersthroughsocialnetworking,aspartoftheHHSandInstituteofMedicinecommitmenttoopengovernment.

LookingforwardtotheHealthDataInitiativeForumIII,thethirdannualHealthDataPalooza,June5-6inWashington,D.C.,organizersareutilizingpublic-privatepartnershipsandextensiveoutreachprogramstomakeiteasierthaneverforconsumers,employers,healthcareproviders,researchers,advocates,journalists,localleaders,andotherstoaccessHHSdatasourcestoimproveindividualandpublichealth.

Return to Table of Contents

Conference explores best practices of community-engaged research By Robin Arnette and Brant Hamel

NIEHSandtheU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesOfficeforHumanResearchProtections(OHRP)sponsoredtheSouthAtlanticNationalResearchConference(SANC),“EngagingtheCommunityforResearchSuccess:WhatScientistsandIRBsNeedtoKnow,”March21-22attheRaleighConventionCenterinNorthCarolina.Theconferencebroughttogethermorethan550registeredparticipants,whichincludedprincipalinvestigators,researchandclinicalpersonnel,institutionalofficials,deans,vice-chancellors,humansubjectprotectionprofessionals,legalcounsel,institutionalreviewboard(IRB)members,communityhealthadvocates,andpublichealthofficials.

Park has brought his extensive private sector experience to bear on advancing the multifaceted Health Data Initiative. Park is often described as the HHS entrepreneur-in-residence. (Photo courtesy of Todd Park)

Linked video:

Watch Park’s interview with PBS News Hour’s Hari Sreenivasan (05:03)

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Flash

25

ThepurposeofSANCwastogainabetterunderstandingofethical,regulatoryandpolicyissuesinvolvedinconductingcommunity-engagedresearchinnationalandinternationalsettings;tolearnbestpracticesincommunity-engagedresearch;andtoprovideaforumforresearchers,regulators,andcommunityrepresentativestolearnfromoneanother,network,andformpartnerships.Thetwo-daygatheringincludedkeynoteandplenarysessions,andtwentyeightbreak-outsessions.

NIEHS advocates protection of human research participantsTheNIEHSOfficeofHumanResearchCompliance(OHRC),whichfallsundertheClinicalResearchProgram,DivisionofIntramuralResearch,developedthevisionandthemeforSANC,andservedashostandmajororganizer.TheOHRCisresponsibleformanagingacomprehensivehumanresearchprotectionprogramattheInstitute,anddoessobyestablishingeducationalandtrainingprograms,offeringsuggestionsduringprotocoldevelopment,providingguidanceonfederalandstateregulations,conductingdailyadministrationoftheNIEHSIRB,andservingasliaisonwiththeNationalInstitutesofHealthOfficeofSubjectsHumanResearchProtections.

JoanPackenham,Ph.D.,directoroftheOHRCandvicechairoftheNIEHSIRB,saidtheconferencewasagreatwaytoraiseawarenessabouttheresponsibilitiesandchallengesofconductingsuccessfulcommunity-engagedresearch.

“Hostingthisconferencewasanimportantpartofwhatwedotoequipcommunity-engagedresearchstakeholderswithusefulinformation,”Packenhamsaid.“Thespeakershavebeenoutstanding,andtheconferencehasbeenaperfectforumtospurdialogue.”

NIEHShasalong-standingcommitmentwithcommunity-basedparticipatoryresearchthroughtheDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining(DERT).DERThasfundedresearchcentersthroughitsPartnershipsforEnvironmentalPublicHealth(PEPH),aprogramthatbringstogetherscientists,communitymembers,educators,healthcareproviders,andpublichealthofficials,inthesharedgoalofconductingresearchthatisfullyintegratedwiththecommunity.

Research subjects or research partners?Duringtheconference,keynotespeakerKeithNorris,M.D.,executivevicepresidentforresearchandhealthaffairsatCharlesR.DrewUniversityofMedicineandScience,saidavitalfeatureofcommunity-engagedresearchisthatresearchersmustbuildatruepartnershipwiththecommunitytheyarestudyingandconsiderthemasparticipantsinasharedprogramofresearch,notasresearchsubjects.Norrisnotedthatresearchersmustbewillingtoengagethecommunityonitsowngroundandincludecommunitymembersinallaspects

Packenham welcomed conference attendees and introduced several speakers. As director of the OHRC, she works to establish a culture of protecting human participants in research studies. (Photo courtesy of John Maruca)

Norris and Packenham fielded questions following Norris’ presentation. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

26

ofresearch,fromconceptiontocommunicationofresults.Heusedtheanalogythatatrulysuccessfulcommunity-engagedresearchprogramislikeamarriagethatinvolvesafullandequalcommitmentofbothpartiestoacommongoal.

Community-level ethical considerationsSeveraloftheconferencespeakersemphasizedthatcommunitiesmayhaveseriousconcernsabouthowresearchresultsimpactthereputationofthecommunityandhowsuchresultsarereported.Communitiesalsowanttoseethatresultsandknowledgeobtainedfromstudiescomebacktotheresearchparticipantandtothecommunityat-large,notjustpublishedinjournals.AccordingtoElmerFreeman,executivedirectoroftheCenterforCommunityHealthEducationResearchandServiceinBoston,participantshaveinsistedthatresultsgetreportedinthepopularpressorinlocalnews,inadditiontotraditionalacademicpublishing.

Communication is key to success Manycultureshaveuniqueconsiderationsthatmayaffecthowparticipantsarerecruitedandthestudyisconducted.RuthEllis,M.D.,astaffclinicianintheLaboratoryofMalariaImmunologyandVaccinologyattheNationalInstituteofAllergyandInfectiousDiseases,notedthatfailingtotreatthecommunityasapartnerinresearchcouldleadtoafailuretorecruitandretainsubjectsortoassessthetrueimpactofinnovations.Intheworstcase,Ellissaidalossofcommunitytrustcouldshutdowntheentireresearchprogram,whichactuallyoccurredduetoabreakdownincommunicationbetweenresearchersandlocalresidentsinJakarta,Indonesia.

Does the Belmont Report provide considerations for community risks and benefits?RobertLevine,M.D.,isaprofessorofmedicineandlecturerinpharmacologyatYaleSchoolofMedicineandspecialconsultanttotheNationalCommissionfortheProtectionofHumanSubjectsofBiomedicalandBehavioralResearch.Levinewasinstrumentalincraftingthe1978BelmontReport,andstructuredhistalkaroundwhethertheBelmontReportandtheCommonRuleof1991spoketothefundamentalissuesoftrulycommunity-engagedresearch.HeconcededthattheBelmont’sethicalprinciplescouldbeseenasthenecessarypredecessortothemoreambitiousgoalsofcommunity-engagedresearch,whereresearchersandparticipants,whoarenolongerconsideredsubjectsandsubordinates,ultimatelyreachconsensusaboutobjectives,studydesign,andresults.

Ivor Pritchard, Ph.D., senior advisor to the director in OHRP, delivered a thought-provoking talk encouraging participants to critically consider how to best engage an IRB in community-engaged research proposals. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Levine said, “Belmont marked a great advance over letting black men die miserably of syphilis in Tuskegee, but today’s generation needs genuine community engagement to overcome the memories of Tuskegee, the legacies of racism, sexism, and imperialism, socioeconomic hierarchy, and the distrust of government.” (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

27

Feedback from conference attendeesBasedonconferenceevaluations,attendeeshaveoverwhelmingagreedthattheconferencewasneededandprovidedanimportantopportunityforlearninganddiscussion.ManyhaverequestedthatOHRCsponsoranotherconferencetocontinuethedialogue.

(BrantHamelPh.D.,isanIntramuralResearchTrainingAward(IRTA)fellowintheNIEHSLaboratoryofSignalTransduction.)

David Resnik, J.D., Ph.D., bioethicist and chair of the NIEHS IRB, posed several questions during the two-day conference. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., and Edward Emmett, M.D., from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, discussed their experiences and successes in communicating research findings with local communities. Birnbaum noted that NIEHS has a history of supporting community-engaged research, saying, “You cannot conduct environmental health research unless the community is involved from the very inception.” (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Stephen Thomas, Ph.D., director of the University of Maryland Center for Health Equity, led an interactive discussion on the ethical considerations of community-engaged research in minority communities. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

With several networking breaks, meeting attendees had lots of opportunities to talk. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Thomas moderated a panel discussion titled, “Community Voices,” which talked about the ethical considerations of community-engaged research in minority and disadvantaged communities. Seated from left to right, Elaine Hart-Brothers, M.D., Alan Richmond, Missy Brayboy, Melvin Jackson, Freeman, and Edgar Villanueva. Panelist Tony Locklear is not pictured. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Many in the conference audience raised their hands in response to questions from Pritchard. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Return to Table of Contents

28

Science NotebookThe importance of calcium entry in mammalian reproduction By Robin Arnette

Theintricatestepsthatafertilizedeggtakesinroutetobecominganembryoaretruemarvelsofnature.Reproductivebiologistsexplainthephenomenonbysayingthemergingofaneggandspermtriggerssignalsdeepinsidetheeggthatallowittobegincelldivision.Thesesignalingeventsareknownaseggactivation,butnewresearchsuggeststhatsomeofthecuesthatinduceeggdevelopmentactuallyoccurelsewhere.

ScientistsfromNIEHS,ledbyCarmenWilliams,M.D.,Ph.D.,andtheUniversityofPennsylvaniaarethefirsttoshowthatcalciumionsenteringtheeggfromtheoutsideareneededforkeyeventsthatpropeltheeggtothetwo-cellstage.TheWilliamsteampublishedtheresultsonlineFeb.27intheProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences.Sincecalciumisacommoningredientinsolutionsusedforin vitrofertilization,theworkhassignificantimplicationsforassistedreproductiveprocedures.

Back and forthAccordingtoWilliams,duringfertilizationofamammalianegg,thespermdeliversaproteincalledphospholipaseC(PLC),whichcausestheeggtoreleasecalciumfrominternalstorageareastotheegg’scytoplasm.Sincetoomuchcalciuminthecytoplasmistoxictotheegg,excesscalciumiseitherpumpedbackintostorageoroutoftheegg.Thebackandforthmovementofcalciumfromstorageoroutsidethecellintothecytoplasmisknownasoscillation,andPLCkeepsitgoingfor4-6hours.

“Thesignalingthathappensasaresultofcalciumentryoccursdirectlyundertheplasmamembrane,ratherthantheentireinsideoftheegg,”Williamssaid.“Ourworkshowsthatthecalciumbeingpumpedbackintotheeggfromtheoutsidehelpsspureggactivation.”

Williamssaidshebecameinterestedinsignalingasaresultofcalciumentry,afterhearingabouttheworkofNIEHSresearcherJamesPutney,Ph.D.Putneystudiesstore-operatedcalciumentry(SOCE),oneofthepathwaysthatcalciumusestore-enteracell.Williams’workdeterminedthatSOCEprobablyhappensatfertilization,butitisn’tnecessary.Thereareotherunidentifiedchannelsthatpermitcalciumreuptakeandgeneratesignals.PutneywaspleasedwithWilliams’findings.

“Itisexcitingtoseethattheprocessofcalciumentry,soextensivelystudiedinsimplecelllines,playssuchafundamentalroleinthecomplexsignalingunderlyingeggfertilization,”Putneysaid.

Simonich holds a joint appointment in the department of chemistry and department of environmental and molecular toxicology at Oregon State University, where she heads a research lab supported by NIEHS SRP funding. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

29

Williamssaidthisstudywasn’tpossiblewithoutthetechnicalexpertiseofvisitingfellowandleadauthoronthepaperYi-LiangMiao,Ph.D.Miaoonlyhadfiveminutestomicroinjectmousespermintomouseeggs,loadtheeggsintoadevicethatmeasurescalciumlevels,andrecord.Healsohadtofigureouttheproperbuffersolutionfortheexperiments.HeneededsomethingthathadthecorrectpH,keptalloftheingredientsinsolution,andwasn’ttoxictotheeggs.Ittookseveralmonths,buthedevelopedabufferthatworked.

What’s in the media?Thisresearchsetsthestageforanewwayofthinkingwhenitcomestohandlingeggsforhumanin vitrofertilization.Williamsexplainedthataftereggsareremovedfromawoman,theyareplacedintoasolutioncalledculturemediumthatnormallycontainscalcium.Shealsonotedthatmanyreproductivespecialistsfreezeeggsandembryosandneedtoaddchemicals,suchasthecryoprotectantdimethylsulfoxide(DMSO),topreventtheeggsfromformingicecrystals.Sheurgedthesepractitionerstopayattentiontowhat’sinthemedia.

“We’vedemonstratedthatcalciumandotherchemicalsinthemediamayimpacttheegg’sabilitytoreceivesignalsfromtheoutside,ormayletcalciumleakintoosoon,whichisalsoaproblem,”Williamsmaintained.

Eggsdependoncalciumtoreceivesignalsfromtheoutsideworldandtocommunicatewithotherpartsofthecell.ThankstotheWilliamsresearchteam,wenowknowhowimportantthisabundantmineralcanbe.

Citation:MiaoYL,SteinP,JeffersonWN,Padilla-BanksE,WilliamsCJ.2012.Calciuminflux-mediatedsignalingisrequiredforcompletemouseeggactivation.ProcNatlAcadSciUSA;doi:10.1073/pnas.1112333109[Online27February2012].

Return to Table of Contents

Reduced vaccine effectiveness tied to PFC exposure By Nancy Lamontagne

NIEHSgranteePhilippeGrandjean,M.D.,hasshownthathigherlevelsofexposuretoperfluorinatedcompounds(PFCs)areassociatedwithreducedimmuneresponseinchildren.ThestudyisoneofthefirsttolinkchildhoodexposuretoPFCswithimmunesystemdeficiencyandtheresultspointtotheimportanceofassessingtheimmunotoxicpotentialofPFCs.Inaddition,theimmunotoxiceffectsofPFCsandotherenvironmentalcontaminantsmighthelpexplainvaccinationfailuresthathavepuzzledscientists.

AsdescribedintheirpaperpublishedintheJournaloftheAmericanMedicalAssociation(JAMA),GrandjeanandhiscolleaguesstudiedtheimmunotoxiceffectsofPFCsbyevaluatingabout600childrenfromtheFaroeIslands,locatedbetweenScotlandandIceland.Thepeopleoftheseislands

Williams holds dual appointments in the Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology and the Clinical Research Program at NIEHS. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Linked video:

Watch as Philippe Grandjean discusses his research on perflouinated compounds (PFCs) and vaccine effectiveness (5:20).

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Flash

30

frequentlyeatmarinefood,whichexposesthemtoawidevarietyofcontaminants,includingPFCs,whichaccumulateinthemarinefoodchain.PFCsarehighlypersistentintheenvironmentandarewidelyusedinfoodpackagingandtextiles,becauseoftheirstain-resistanceandwater-repellantproperties.

“We’veworkedwiththiscommunityfor25yearsandhavebeenverysuccessfulinconductingpopulationstudies,”saysGrandjean,anadjunctprofessorofenvironmentalhealthattheHarvardSchoolofPublicHealthinBoston.“Wehavearecordofdoingsomethingthatisusefultothecommunityandalsousefultoscience.”

TheinvestigatorsassessedprenatalexposurebymeasuringPFCsinthemother’sserumduringpregnancyandlatercheckedforthecompoundsinsamplesfromthechildrenatage5.Theyusedtheantibodyresponsetochildhoodimmunizationsasanindicationofhowwellachild’simmunesystemwasfunctioning,takingmeasurementsofantibodyconcentrationjustbeforethelastboostershotatage5andagaintwoyearslater.ThechildrenwithelevatedexposuretoPFCsshowedlowerantibodyresponsestochildhoodimmunizations.

“WhenthePFCexposuredoubled,thechildlostabouthalfoftheantibodyconcentrationandtheriskofnotbeingprotected,evenafterfourvaccinations,increasedbyafactoroftwotofouratage7,”saysGrandjean,whoisalsoheadofenvironmentalmedicineresearchattheUniversityofSouthernDenmark,Odense.

TheresearcherswillcontinuetoexamineimmunesystemdysfunctionassociatedwithPFCexposure,includingresponsestoinfectiousdisease.Thereareproblemswithvaccineeffectivenessaroundtheworld,andGrandjeansaysthatimmunotoxicityneedstobeexaminedtoensurevaccinationsareeffectivebothonindividualandpopulationlevels.Healsosaysthattheimpactofenvironmentalcontaminantsontheimmunesystemcouldpossiblyplayaroleinnoncommunicablediseases,suchascancer,andautoimmunediseases,suchastype1diabetes.

Citation:GrandjeanP,AndersenEW,Budtz-JorgensenE,NielsenF,MolbakK,WeiheP,HeilmannC.2012.Serumvaccineantibodyconcentrationsinchildrenexposedtoperfluorinatedcompounds.JAMA307(4):391-397.

(NancyLamontagneisasciencewriterwithMDB,Inc.,acontractorfortheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining,SuperfundResearchProgram,andWorkerEducationandTrainingProgram.)

Return to Table of Contents

Grandjean and his colleagues have studied the health effects of marine contaminants in the Faroe Islands people since the 1980s. In addition to PFCs, the researchers have investigated methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. (Photo courtesy of Philippe Grandjean)

Grandjean presented his research Feb. 16 at the NIEHS National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council meeting (see story), where NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., described his work as potentially paradigm changing. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

31

Hormones and Cancer highlights NIEHS/NTP paper By Eddy Ball

ThejournalHormonesandCancerishighlightinganewpaperbyNIEHSandNTPscientistsasoneofnineavailablefreeatthejournal’swebsite.Thebimonthlyjournalisbeginningitsthirdyear,asapublicationoftheEndocrineSociety,withanupdatedcoverdesignandnewleadershipforitsmissionofadvancingbasicandclinicalresearchonhormonallyinfluencedcancersofendocrineglands.

Inamessageofcongratulationstothepaper’sfirstauthor,NIEHSpostdoctoralfellowShannonWhirledge,Ph.D.,incomingEditor-in-ChiefCarolLange,Ph.D.,wrote,“HormonesandCancerhasselectedyourrecentpaperforitshighsignificancetoourfieldandmadeitavailableasafreedownload.”Assuch,thepaperformspartoftheimportantfirstimpressionthejournalmakesonpotentialsubscribersandprospectivemembersoftheEndocrineSociety,whoreceiveopenaccessaspartoftheirmembership.

Whirledge,whoisamemberoftheNIEHSMolecularEndocrinologyGroupheadedbyleadresearcherJohnCidlowski,Ph.D.,co-authoredthepaperwithCidlowski,theseniorauthor,andleadresearcherDarleneDixon,D.V.M.,Ph.D.,headoftheNTPMolecularPathogenesisGroup,thesecondauthor.

Linking glucocorticoids to cellular proliferation in uterine fibroidsAccordingtothestudy,itisreportedthatwomenoverage45havemorethana60percentlifetimeriskofdevelopinguterinefibroids,orleiomyomas,benigntumorsoftheuterusthataretheleadingcauseforhysterectomiesintheU.S.Fibroidsposeasignificantpublichealthconcern,duebothtotheirprevalenceandassociatedsymptoms,includingheavybleeding,pain,infertility,andcomplicationsduringpregnancyandlabor.

Althoughestrogenhasbeenclearlylinkedtofibroiddevelopmentandgrowth,Whirledgeandhercolleaguessuspectedthatotherfactors,includingthesteroidhormoneglucocorticoidreceptor(GR)binding,areinvolved.“Wehypothesizedthatglucocorticoidsmightalsoblockestrogen-regulatedgeneexpressionorbiologicalfunctionsimportantforleiomyomagrowth,”theywrote,“[with]thepotentialtoimprovecurrentstrategiesinthedevelopmentoftreatmentforuterineleiomyomas.”

In vitro results suggest potential efficacy of in vivo interventionUsingimmortalizedhumanuterineleiomyomacellsanduterinesmoothmusclecellssuppliedbyDixon,theteamperformedaseriesofdetailedexperimentstodetermineexpressionofGRandestrogen

The Hormones and Cancer paper is Whirledge’s second publication as a member of the NIEHS Molecular Endocrinology Group and as first author. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Among his many honors for his research, Cidlowski has received the Edwin B. Astwood Award by the Endocrine Society. He has been with NIEHS since 1995. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

32

receptor,geneexpression,andcellproliferation.Theresearcherswereabletoidentifygeneexpressionchangesdifferentiallyregulatedwithtreatmentbyboththesyntheticglucocorticoiddexamethasone(Dex)andestrogen(E2)thatmayplayaroleinanantagonisticrelationship.DexandE2hadsignificanteffectsontheexpressionofgenesinvolvedininflammatoryandcellproliferationpathways.Byinterferingwithcellphaseprogression,Dextreatmentdecreasedcellproliferation,akeytostemmingtheaberrantgrowthcharacteristicoffibroids,andcotreatmentwithE2didnotreversetheeffect.

“Thisstudyprovidesthefirstevidencethatglucocorticoidandestrogenantagonismactsnotonlyinaglobalmanner,butalsoinacell-specificmannerintheuterus,specificallyauterinetumorinwhichmanyquestionsremainregardingtheregulationofitsendocrinology,”theresearchersexplained.“Theclinicalimplicationsofthecurrentfindingsaresignificantandhavethepotentialtoimprovecurrentstrategiesinthedevelopmentoftreatmentforuterineleiomyomas.”

Lookingaheadtoclinicalapplicationsoftheirfindings,theresearchteamsaidthattranslatingtheirdiscoveriesintoatherapeuticinterventionwillrequirefurtherstudytobetterunderstandthemolecularprocessesinvolvedinglucocorticoidantagonismandwhetherthefindingscanbereplicatedinanintactuterineenvironment.

Citations:LangeCA.2012.HormonesandCancer:ABrightFuture.HormCancer.Apr;3(1-2):1-2.

WhirledgeS,DixonD,CidlowskiJA.2012.GlucocorticoidsRegulateGeneExpressionandRepressCellularProliferationinHumanUterineLeiomyomaCells.HormCancer;doi:10.1007/s12672-012-0103-0[Online7February2012].

Return to Table of Contents

Grantee with Midas touch speaks at NIEHS By Eddy Ball

Ashiscompanydevelopsequipmentforextractingmetalsfromtoxicacidrockdrainage(ARD),withthepotentialforturninghazardouswastewaterintocopper,zinc,andothervaluablemetalsorusefulcompoundssuchasironsulfate,NIEHSgranteePatrickJames,Ph.D.,hastakentohearttheenvironmentalconceptofsustainability.

AsJamestoldhisaudienceduringatalkatNIEHSMarch9,“OurparadigmistotreatARDasaresource,notawaste.”Iftheequipmentultimatelyperformsasexpected—andearlyresultsareverypromising—James’company,BluePlanetStrategies,LLC,(BPS)couldbecomeinstrumentalincleanupeffortsatorphanedlegacymines,extendtheprofitablelifeofminesintheU.S.,andpossiblymakeJamesandhispartnerswealthymen.

Dixon’s group studies rodent reproductive tissue and tissue samples taken from cycle-staged, premenopausal women that are part of the NIEHS/George Washington University Uterine Fibroid Study. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

33

ThehostofJames’talkwasNIEHSSuperfundResearchProgram(SRP)HealthScientistAdministratorHeatherHenry,Ph.D.MostofthepeopleinJames’audiencewereNIEHSgrantadministratorsmanagingopportunitieswiththeNIHSmallBusinessInnovationResearch(SBIR)/SmallBusinessTechnologyTransfer(SBTT)program.Fundedbyaset-asideportionofanagency’sextramuralbudget,theprogramfostersresearchanddevelopmentprojectsthatfurthertheagency’smissionandshowapotentialforcommercialization.

SBIR funds startupSBIRfundingwouldhelpgettheprototypeofftheground,thedevelopersreasoned,butitwouldstillneedprivatesectordemandtofullydevelopextractionpotential.“Ifit’snoteconomicallyviable,”Jamesexplained,“it’snotgoingtogetoutthedoor.”Sodeveloperssetaboutenhancingaproprietarymethodforextraction,usingasingle-electrode,two-stepelectrowinning/electroplatingprocedurethatwouldcostlesstooperatethanthevalueofmaterialsitreclaimedfromwastewater.

Becauseofregulatoryandlegalconcerns,BluePlanetdecidedtousesamplesfromoperatingminesthatweresimilarincompositiontowastewaterattheSummitvilleSuperfundsite.Thatapproachwouldsimultaneouslydemonstratetheprocedure’spotentialfortoxicmetalremediationanditsvaluefortheprivatesector.

Theequipmentwasoriginallydevelopedaroundcopperextraction.Recentupgradeshavegreatlyexpandeditsrangeofutility,andinitialtestsonARDtargetedironsulfaterecovery,becauseironisacommonARDcontaminantpresentinlargeamounts,butisnotofsufficientvalue,initself,towarrantrecoveryofthemetal,Jamesexplained.

Ininitialefforts,thecostofproductionwas$350perton,whilemarketvalueoftheextractedferroussulfatewas$700perton.Ferroussulfateisahigh-valueproductwidelyusedinavarietyofindustrialprocesses,includingtextilemanufacturing,watertreatment,printing,andagriculture.

Jamessaidhehopestoreduceproductioncosttoaround$200pertonastheequipmentisscaledtoincreasethetreatmentvolumetoasmuchas2,000gallonsperminute.

SustainabilityTheprivatesectorhasacompellinginterestintheextractiontechniqueforturningwhatiscurrentlywasteintoadditionalrevenueandextendingthelivesofexistingminesintheU.S.,wherethepurestoresarequicklybecomingdepleted.“Becauseofhighclosurecosts,nobodywantstoshutdownmines,”Jamesexplained.Furthermore,gettingpermitsfornewminestakesyears,andthecostsarealsoenormous.

“Sothey’revery,veryinterested,”Jamessaid.AugmentingexistingprocessingfacilitieswithBPStechnologywillenabletheuseofvastquantitiesofwastequalityoreforcopperproduction,whileconsumingabouthalfasmuchenergyasconventionalprocessing.Theaugmentationwouldbeeconomicallyviable,aslongascopperstaysabove$2perpound.Theprocesscoulddoublethelifeaswellastheproductioncapacityofexistingmines,thusreducingtheneedforimportedoreandnewminedevelopment.

Following the presentation, Henry, left, and James stayed to answer questions from the audience. James noted that U.S. Geological Service estimates indicate there are 450,000 contaminated legacy mining sites in the U.S. alone. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

34

Jamesishopingthatwithaprovenprototype,hisnewtechnologywillfinditsplaceinSuperfundcleanup,oncelegalandregulatoryissuesareworkedout.Asanentrepreneur,heisalsostrivingtoachieveahealthyreturnonhiscompany’sinvestmentoftime,ingenuity,andcapital.

Return to Table of Contents

Science showcases grantee and NIEHS/NTP tox efforts By Eddy Ball

AfeatureintheMarch2issueofScience,“LIFESCIENCETECHNOLOGIES:Animal-FreeToxicology:Sometimes,inVitroisBetter,”highlightsNIEHS/NTPpredictivetoxicologyefforts.ThearticlediscussesworkbyNIEHSgranteeThomasHartung,M.D.,Ph.D.,towardmappingwhathecallsthetoxome,theTox21consortium,andalternativetesting.

AlongwitheffortswellunderwayinEurope,writesJeffreyPerkelintheSciencearticle,animal-freetoxicologyintheU.S.isdemonstratingthat,sometimes,in vitroisbetterthantryingtosubjecttensofthousandsofchemicalstotime-consumingandexpensiveanimaltesting.Thegoaloftheseinitiativesistoidentifythebiomolecularchangestriggeredbytoxicexposurethatleadultimatelytothepathologicaloutcomes,orapicalendpoints,measuredintraditionalanimalstudies.

Mapping perturbed pathways as a guide to high-throughput screeningHartung,aDoerenkamp-Zbindenprofessorandchairforevidence-basedtoxicologyattheJohnsHopkinsUniversityBloombergSchoolofPublicHealth,hasembarkedonasix-yearNIEHSfundingquesttomapthebiomolecularpathwaysperturbedinresponsetotoxicitybyendocrinedisruptionthatwillmarkoneimportantstepforwardtowardthegargantuantask.“Mappingtheentiretyofthese[toxicity]pathways(i.e.,theHumanToxome),”Hartungwroteinhisgrantdescription,“willbealarge-scaleeffort,perhapsontheorderoftheHumanGenomeProject.”

Usinggeneexpressionmicroarraysandmassspectrometry-basedmetabolomics,Hartung’steamistestinghumanbreastcancercelllines,exposedtosome53endocrine-disruptingcompounds,tochartgeneexpressionandmetabolomicchangesinproteinproduction.

Consortia to develop predictive toxicology and reduce animal testingInadditiontofundingsuchresearchersasHartung,NIEHS/NTPisalsoapartoftwoforward-thinkinginteragencyconsortiaworkingtoexpanduseofin vitrotestingandreducerelianceonanimals.Thenewest,knownasTox21,isapartnershipamongNIEHS/NTP,theNIHChemicalGenomicsCenter(NCGC),theU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,andtheU.SFoodandDrugAdministration,todeveloppredictivetoxicologyusinghigh-throughputscreening.

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Hartung was head of the European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods of the European Commission from 2002 to 2008. (Photo courtesy of Johns Hopkins)

35

Tox21hassetitssightsonscreening10,000pluscompoundsonanNCGCroboticsplatform.Theinformationthathigh-throughputscreeningyieldswillhelpidentifytoxicitypathwaysthatwillbethebasisformoretargetedassays.

TheNTPInteragencyCenterfortheEvaluationofAlternativeToxicologicalMethods(NICEATM)alsoadministersapartnershipknownastheInteragencyCoordinatingCommitteeontheValidationofAlternativeMethods(ICCVAM).WithrepresentativesfromU.S.federalregulatoryandresearchagenciesthatrequire,use,generate,ordisseminatetoxicologicalinformation,ICCVAMischargedwithpromotingthevalidationandregulatoryacceptanceofnewalternativetestmethodsthatmayreduce,refine,andreplaceanimaluseforsafetytestingofvariouschemicals,medicines,andconsumerproducts.

Todate,ICCVAMhascontributedtotheregulatoryapprovalofmorethan49alternativemethods.Replacinganimalswithin vitrotestingtoensureconsumerandworkersafetyisn’talwayspossible.Butwhentheycan’treplaceanimals,alternativemethodsstrivetousemanyfeweranimalsandtomakesafetytestingwithanimalslessharmful,painful,andstressful.

EveryonePerkelinterviewedforhisstoryconcededthatthechallengesareenormous,andthatprogresstowardrealizingpredictivetoxicologyandreducinganimaltesting,asmuchaspossible,willtakeseveralyears.Still,theeffortisreceivinggovernmentsupportfromsuchagenciesasNIEHS/NTPandprivatesectorinvolvementisgrowing.

Citation:Perkel,JM.2012.LIFESCIENCETECHNOLOGIES:Animal-FreeToxicology:Sometimes,inVitroisBetter.Science335(6072):1122-1125.

Return to Table of Contents

Guest speaker helps NIEHS gauge the potential of microbiome research By Melissa Kerr

DevelopmentalbiologistJohnRawls,Ph.D.,spokeMarch1atNIEHSontherelationshipofintestinaltractflorabalanceandriskofobesity,animportantpublichealthchallengethataffectsone-thirdofadultsandnearlyafifthofchildrenandadolescentsintheU.S.Ratesofoverweightandobesityhaveincreasedsteadilyinrecentyears,suggestingalinktootherenvironmentalfactors,inadditiontotheusualsuspectsofsedentarylifestyleandincreasedfoodintake.

Atthebeginning,Rawlsintroducedthethemethatwouldrunthroughouthistalk.“Oneofmymaingoalsinlifeistotryandcomeupwithnovelapproachestotreatobesityandpreventitaswell,”hesaid.“Collectively,ournationneedstoloseabout4.6billionpounds.”

“It’s a very complex ecosystem,” Rawls said of the bacteria community in the human gut. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

36

HostedbyHealthScientistAdministratorLisaChadwick,Ph.D.,Rawls’talkon“Microbialanddevelopmentalregulationofvertebrateenergybalance”alsogavehisaudienceanopportunitytoconsiderhowsimilarlinesofresearchonthetrillionsofmicrobesthatcolonizehumansmightadvancetheNIEHSmissionofdiscoveringthewaysenvironmentaffectspeople,inordertopromotehealthierlives(seetextbox).

RawlsisanassistantprofessorinthedepartmentofcellandmolecularphysiologyandthedepartmentofmicrobiologyandimmunologyattheUniversityofNorthCarolina(UNC)atChapelHillSchoolofMedicine,whereheconductsresearchintheareasofmicrobiologyandgastroenterology.In2004,Rawlspublishedthefirstinaseriesofpapersonthedevelopmentofgerm-freezebrafishasamodelorganismformicrobiomeresearch.HiscurrentresearchissupportedbythreegrantsfundedbytheNationalInstituteofDiabetesandDigestiveandKidneyDiseases.

Making science transparentRawlsexplainedthatheuseszebrafishinhisworkbecauseofthetransparencyofitstissuesduringdevelopment,itssizeandrapiddevelopment,andtheextenttowhichitsbiologyisevolutionarilyconservedinmammals.Thisopticaltransparency,Rawlssaid,permitsreal-timein vivoimagingofhosttissuesandtheirmicrobialinhabitants.Thesmallsizeofthezebrafishenableshigh-throughputscreening.

Throughtheseexperiments,hehopestocometoanunderstandingofhowgenetranscriptionisaffectedbydifferentmicrobialpopulations,usingcomparativestudiesofzebrafishthataregerm-free,conventionallyraised,andconventionalized—colonizedwithdefinedmicrobiotaafterbeingconceivedgerm-free.

SomeofRawls’workidentifiedcertainintestinalmicrobesthatcouldinfluenceahost’sabilitytopromotefatstorage.Theuniqueabilityofscientiststoobservezebrafishtissuehasrevealedthatcertaingenetranscriptionsaremodifiedbymicrobialinteractions,specificallyexpressionofacirculatinginhibitoroflipoproteinlipasecalledangiopoietin-like4(Angptl4).

MicrobesseemtoplayaroleintheregulationofAngptl4intheintestine,promotingfatstorageinthehost.Thus,thereispotentialforusingAngptl4asatargetforobesityintervention.

Branching outAlongwithresearchintogutmicrobialecologyandregulationofhostnutrientmetabolism,Rawlsisalsoexploringthemorphogenesisofwhiteadiposetissue(WAT),whichisusedbythebodyassitesofenergystorage,aswellasregulatorsofenergybalanceandinflammation.“Itmattershowwestorefatanditmattershowadipocytetissueisbuilt,”saidRawls.

Chadwick, who hosted the talk remotely, presented a concept clearance, “Microbiome/Environment Interactions,” during the February meeting of the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council at NIEHS. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Helena Davis was one of several NIEHS Division of Extramural Research and Training staff members who attended the talk. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

37

Asheexplained,theoriginofthesetissues,oradipogenesis,isnotwellunderstood.Also,theroleofenvironmentalfactorsanddietinthedevelopmentofadipocytesisnotyetclear.Rawls’groupisthefirsttousezebrafishasamodelorganismforstudyingWATdevelopment.

RawlsarguedthatunderstandingWATdevelopmentcouldleadtonovelapproachesforobesityinterventionandprevention.AlthoughhereadilyadmitstherearemoreideasthaninformationaboutWATdevelopment,Rawls’groupisgaininginsightsfromtheirmodelintothedynamicsofvascularizationandpatternsofwhathedescribedastemporaloscillationbetweenincreasesintheirsizeofcellsandtheirnumber.Vasculararchitecture,hesaid,determinesgrowthofWAT,andthepatternofantagonismbetweenincreasesinsizeandnumberofcellsseemstoinfluenceinflammationandinsulinsensitivity.

(MelissaKerrstudieschemistryatNorthCarolinaCentralUniversity.SheiscurrentlyaninternintheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison.)

Return to Table of Contents

Advancing understanding of the microbiomeThemicrobiomeconsistsofthecollectionofmicroorganismsthatliveonandinahumanbeing.Withinaperson,therearearound160bacterialspeciesandanywherefrom10-100trillionmicroorganisms—10timesthenumberofhumancells.

AspartofherworkintheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining,ChadwickistheInstitute’srepresentativefortheHumanMicrobiomeProject,alargeprogramfundedbytheNIHCommonFund.Oneofthegoalsofthisprogramistodevelopareferencemicrobiomethatwouldconsistofinformationfrommanydifferentbodysiteswithinahealthyindividual.Thisinformation,andotherstudiesfundedbythisprogram,ishelpingusbettercomprehendtherelationshipbetweenmicrobialbalanceanddiseasedevelopment.

Inaddition,ChadwickadministerstheNIEHSextramuralresearchprograminvestigatinghowthemicrobiomeinteractswiththeenvironment.NIEHSisinterestedinhowthefunctionofthemicrobiomemaybepermanentlyalteredbyexposuretoenvironmentalchemicals,particularlyduringearlylifeexposureswhenthemicrobiomeisbeingcolonized.Ithasalsobeendiscoveredthatsomeenvironmentalchemicalscanbemetabolizedbyanindividual’smicrobiome.“Everyonehasaslightlydifferentmicrobiome,soyoucanimaginethatthiscouldbeafactorinwhypeopleresponddifferentlytothesameexposure,”saidChadwick.NIEHSwouldliketoknowmoreaboutthisprocess,andtherangeofchemicalsthataremetabolizedinthisway.

Rawls’researchisclearlyrelatedtoChadwick’splanningforfutureinitiatives.Previousexperimentshaveshownthatthemicroorganismswithinaperson’sintestineshaveanimpactonthehost’smetabolismofdietarynutrients,and,becauseoftheimportroleofthegutinimmunity,themicrobiomecaninfluencehealththroughoutthebody.

“Thisiskindofanewareafor[NIEHS]andIwantedtobringsomeonetotalkaboutit.Dr.Rawls’workisparticularlyinteresting,becauseheuseszebrafishasamodel,onewhichisalsofrequentlyusedintoxicologystudies,”saidChadwick.

38

Lai discusses DNA methylation at WSA Scholars seminar By Ian Thomas

NIEHSscientistAnneLai,Ph.D.,wasoneofthreehonoredpresentersatthe2ndAnnualNIHWomenScientistAdvisorsCommittee(WSA)ScholarsSeminarMarch2inBethesda,Md.HeldinWilsonHallonNIH’smaincampus,theseriesfeaturestalksfromfemalerecipientsoftheFellowsAwardforResearchExcellence(FARE).

“WinningtheWSAscholarawarditselfwasawonderfulhonor,butIwasthrilledforthechancetogiveatalktosomanyofmyfellowwomenscientists,”saidLai.“Itisalwaysagreatfeelingwhenyourresearchisrecognized,butit’sparticularlynicewhenthatrecognitioncomesfromsuchacloselyknitgroupofone’speers.”

ApostdoctoralfellowintheEukaryoticTranscriptionalRegulationGroupintheNIEHSLaboratoryofMolecularCarcinogenesis,Laiwasnameda2012FAREwinnerforherpaper,titled“DynamicsofDNAmethylationduringBlymphocyteactivationanddifferentiation,”astudywhichexaminedtheimpactofepigeneticeventsontheimmunesystem(seestory).

“WesetouttobetterunderstandhowDNAmethylationcaninfluenceimmuneresponse,”Laiexplained.“BytrackingthedistributionofaspecificepigeneticmarkinBlymphocytesthroughoutthecourseofaninfection,wediscoveredanumberofDNAmethylationreprogrammingeventsthatoccurredafterimmuneactivation.Itistheseeventsthatwebelievemayhaveanimportantroleinshapingamemoryimmuneresponse.”

AnativeofHongKong,China,Lai’sfamilyimmigratedtoCaliforniawhenshewas11yearsold.RaisedinLosAngeles,LaicompletedherundergraduatestudiesattheUniversityofCalifornia,BerkeleybeforemovingtoNorthCarolina,wheresheearnedaPh.D.inimmunologyatDukeUniversityandbeganpostdoctoralworkatNIEHS.

“Annehasdoneanamazingjobasamemberofmygroup,”saidPaulWade,Ph.D.,Lai’sprincipalinvestigator.“Herbodyofworkasawholespeaksforitself,butit’salwaysnicetoseesomeonewhoworksashardasshedoesgettherecognitionforitthatshedeserves.”

Launchedin1993,theWSAcommitteewasfoundedtoexamineandrecognizetheachievementsofwomenscientistsinintramuralresearch.Atpresent,thereisatleastoneWSArepresentativeforeachofNIH’s27institutesandcenters(seetextbox).

OtherpresentersincludedYurongSong,Ph.D.,apostdoctoralfellowwiththeNationalCancerInstituteCenterforCancerResearch,andShrutiNaik,aresearchfellowwiththeNationalInstituteofAllergyandInfectiousDiseases.

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistwiththeNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaisonandaregularcontributortotheEnvironmentalFactor)

WSA Scholar Lai (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

39

Return to Table of Contents

Fire retardant study named paper of the year by ES&T By Eddy Ball

AnNIEHS-fundedstudybygranteeHeatherStapleton,Ph.D.,wasselectedastopsciencepaperof2011bythejournalEnvironmentalScience&Technology(ES&T).PublishedbyES&TMay18,2011,thepaperexaminedlevelsofflameretardantchemicalsininfantandtoddlerproducts.Itattractedimmediateattentionfromthemedia,includingafeatureontheCBSEveningNewsandcoveragebytheNewYorkTimesandothers.

AccordingtoKellynBetts,whowroteanarticleaboutStapelton’swinningpaperforES&T,thestudypromptedCaliforniatoamenditsfireretardantstatutetoexemptsomechildren’sproducts,apotentiallyimportantstepinreducingexposuresnationwide.Stapleton’smentorandlongtimecolleague,NIEHS/NTPDirectorLindaBirnbaum,Ph.D.,describedthepaperasgroundbreaking.

Duties and activities of WSA membersLiketheirfellowWSAmembers,theNIEHS/NTPrepresentatives,biostatisticianGraceKissling,Ph.D.,andchemistSuramyaWaidyanatha,Ph.D.,havethefollowingdutiestoperform:

• HoldregularmeetingswithherScientificDirectorinordertoadvisehim/heraboutissuesrelevanttowomenscientists.AttendLab/BranchChiefmeetingstoserveasarepresentativeofwomenscientists.

• InformtheInstitute’swomenscientistsonissuesthatwillaffectthem,suchastenuretrackandstaffscientistpolicydecisions,andsolicittheiropinions.

• Organizemeetingsforthewomenscientists,todiscussissuesofgeneralconcern,ortopresentprogramsofgeneralinterest.

• Serve,ordesignateanalternatewomanscientist,fromherownIC,anotherIC,orevenfromtheextramuralcommunity,toserveontenure-track,tenuredscientist,orlab/branchchiefICsearchcommittees.

• AttendWSAcommitteemeetingsonceamonthwhereissuessuchaspayequity,familylife,andwork-relatedhazardsarediscussed.

• Subcommitteesmaybeestablishedtodealwithspecificissues,suchasmonitoringresourceallocations,awards,orhandlingarrangementsforlectures.

In addition to this year’s win, Stapleton also authored the ES&T top paper of 2005. (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

Linked video:

Watch a CBS news story about the flame retardant study, featuring interviews with Stapleton and NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D. (02:39).

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Flash

40

Thestudy,“IdentificationofFlameRetardantsinPolyurethaneFoamCollectedfromBabyProducts,”foundthatinfantproductscontainhighlevelsofseveralflameretardantchemicals,whicharesuspectedtohavepotentialtodisruptthyroidhormonesignalingimportantinnormaldevelopment(seestory).Stapletonandhercolleaguestestedlevelsinpolyurethanefoamincarseats,changingtablespads,mattresses,andotherinfantandtoddlerproducts,andfoundretardantsin80of101productstestedatlevelsashighas12percentbyweightoffoam.

“Thispaperwasarealwakeupcall,”Birnbaumsaid.“Someofthesechemicalsareverypersistentintheenvironmentandmayhavethepotentialtocauseavarietyofadversehealtheffects.”

Stapleton,whoisanassistantprofessorofenvironmentalchemistryatDukeUniversity,receivedanNIEHSOutstandingNewEnvironmentalScientistawardin2008(seestory),providingearlycareersupportforsettingupherlab.SheholdstwograntsfromNIEHS—“Children’sexposuretoflameretardants:Effectsonthyroidhormoneregulation”and“Deiodinaseactivityasabiomarkerofresponsetobrominatedflameretardants.”

Citations:BettsK.2012.FireRetardantsAboundinBabyProducts:ES&T’sTopSciencePaper2011.EnvironSciTechnol;doi:10.1021/es300730d[Online5March2012].

StapletonHM,KlosterhausS,KellerA,FergusonPL,vanBergenS,CooperE,WebsterTF,BlumA.2011.Identificationofflameretardantsinpolyurethanefoamcollectedfrombabyproducts.EnvironSciTechnol45(12):5323-5331.

Return to Table of Contents

Early-life infection may lead to adult memory loss By Robin Arnette

Lance,a30-year-oldlawstudent,isstudyingforthebarexam.Ashesiftsthroughvolumesofcasesinasecludedcornerofthelawlibrary,he’salittleanxious.Itwillbehisthirdattempttopassthetest.Lanceworksashardashisclassmates,buthejustcan’tseemtoholdallofthepertinentlegaldetailsinhishead.

Accordingtoresearchperformedinrodents,Lance’smemoryproblemsmaybetheresultofaninfectionhehadearlyinlife.NIEHSgranteeStaciBilbo,Ph.D.,studiestheinfluenceoftheneonatalenvironmentontheimmunesystemanditsimpactontheadultbrain.DuringhertalkMarch8atNIEHS,Bilbosaidratpupsthatsufferedbacterialinfectionsin utero,andexperiencedasecondimmunechallengelaterinlife,displayedseverememoryimpairmentsasmaturerats.

Bilboexplainedthatthisearly-lifeinfectiondoesn’tjustimpactmemory.Shearguedthatitisavulnerabilityfactorthatprimesanimals,particularlyhumans,toexhibitanynumberofdisorders,suchasmultiplesclerosis,depression,andevenaddiction.

41

Learning and the immune response Bilbosaidmicroglia,onetypeofimmunecellinthebrain,isamajorplayerinlater-lifebrainfunctionandbehavior.Microgliacellsproduceinterleukin-1beta(IL-1beta),asignalingmoleculethatiscriticalfornormalbraindevelopment.Tounderstandtheroleofmicrogliainlater-lifeeffects,Bilboandherteamexposedpostnataldayfourrats—equivalenttoapretermhumaninfantinthesecondorthirdtrimester—toE. coli,acommoninfectionindevelopingfetuses.Whentheratsreachedadulthood,Bilboexaminedtheirlearningabilityusingastandardconditioningprogram.

Onthefirstday,theratswereplacedintoanewenvironmentandallowedtoexplore.Theywerethenseparatedintotwogroups.Thecontrolgroupreceivedaninjectionofsaline,whiletheotherreceivedbacteriallipopolysaccharide(LPS),asubstancemeanttostimulatetheimmunesystem.Ondaytwo,bothsetsofratswereplacedinthesamesurroundingsasthepreviousdayandweregivenamildfootshock.Whenplacedinthesameterrainondaythree,thesaline-treatedratshadlearnedthatashockwasimminentandfrozeintheirtracks.MembersoftheLPSgroup,however,didn’tremembertheshockandexploredtheirenvironmentasifnothinghadeverhappened.

“TheneonatalexposuretoE. coliallowedthebraintoupregulateallofthegenesitneededtorespondtotheinfection,”Bilbosaid.“But,ifithadLPSontopofthat,themicrogliainthebrainproducedtoomuchIL-1beta,allowingtherattooverrespondwhenitencounteredasecondimmunechallenge.”

A mother’s loveOtherscientistshaveshownthatmotherratsimpactthebrainsoftheiroffspringthroughlicking,grooming,andnursing.Theresearchersmimickedthisbehavior,byseparatingthemomsfromtheirpupsfor15minutesadayandthenplacingthembackwiththeirbabies.Asaresult,themomsincreasedtheiramountofcare,andthepupsgrewuptohaveenhancedlearningcapabilitiesanddecreasedmicroglialactivitiesinresponsetoLPS.

Bilbowonderedifshecouldpreventtheeffectofearlyinfectionbyaugmentingrodentmaternalcare.Sheusedthesameseparationprotocolonearly-infectedpups,andfoundshecouldpreventmicroglialsensitization.

“Theextralickingblockedanoverresponsebythemicroglia,sowebelievetheentireprocessisepigeneticallyinduced,”Bilboremarked.

Bilbo is an assistant professor in the department of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University. She presented a talk titled “Programming Innate Immunity: Implications for Brain Behavior Throughout the Lifespan.”. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

NIEHS Laboratory of Toxicology and Pharmacology scientist Jau-Shyong Hong, Ph.D., right, who examines microglial response to brain injury, invited Bilbo to the Institute to talk about her work. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

After the lecture, NIEHS Laboratory of Molecular Genetics researcher Michael Resnick, Ph.D., left, asked Bilbo how her work relates to studies being done on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

42

HuimingGao,M.D.,Ph.D.,apostdoctoralfellowintheNIEHSLaboratoryofToxicologyandPharmacology,tookcopiousnotesduringtheseminarandsaid,“Bilbo’sresultsnotonlyhelpusbetterunderstandbrainandimmunesystemdevelopment,butalsoneurodegenerativediseasesandmentalillnesses.”

It’sunclearwhetherattorney-to-beLancesufferedaninfectionasadevelopingfetusorifhehadanurturingmother.Nonetheless,Bilbo’sresearchoffersanintriguingexplanationforhispoormemoryandanewdirectioninunderstandingtheinfluenceoftheimmunesystem.

Return to Table of Contents

Study suggests possible therapy for arsenic toxicity By Angela Spivey

Oneofthefirstlarge-scalegenomicstudiesconductedinadevelopingcountrysuggestsapossiblerouteforpreventingdiseaseinpeopleexposedtoarsenic,byimprovingmetabolismofthemetalwithnutrientsorcompoundsthattargetaprocesscalledmethylation.Thestudyalsoshowedthatgeneticdifferencesmaypartiallyexplainwhysomepeopleexposedtoarsenicgetsick,whileothersexposedtothesamelevelsdonot.

Thestudy,fundedbyNIEHSandtheSuperfundResearchProgram,identifiedsmallgeneticvariantsthatincreaseriskforskinlesionsinpeopleexposedtoarsenic.Thevariantsarefoundneartheenzymeformetabolizingthechemicalintoalesstoxicform,providingstrongevidencethatefficientmetabolismofarsenicthroughmethylationisprotective.

TheteamwasledbyHabibulAhsan,M.D.,seniorauthorofthestudyandLouisBlockprofessorofepidemiologyatTheUniversityofChicago(UC).NIEHSOutstandingNewEnvironmentalScientist(ONES)awardeeBrandonPierce,Ph.D.,alsoofUC,wasfirstauthor.

Understanding differences in host susceptibility“Whateverthesourceofexposure,differentindividualsvarywithrespecttotheirsusceptibilitytothetoxicityofarsenic,”saidAhsan.“Nowthatweunderstandthemolecularbasisofsomeofthisdiseaserisk,itisconceivabletothinkofincorporatingthisinformationintotestingandevaluating,orpotentiallycomingupwithsuccessfulbiomedicalinterventions.”

“Thiscurrentstudyshowsifyou’reabettermethylator,you’reatalowerriskfordisease,”saidco-authorJosephGraziano,Ph.D.,professorofenvironmentalhealthsciencesanddirectoroftheSuperfundResearchProgramattheMailmanSchoolofPublicHealthatColumbiaUniversity.

Nutrition may be a protective factorThefindingsopenthepossibilityofinterventionsusingcompoundsthatboostmethylation,suchasfolicacid,astrategycurrentlybeingtestedbyco-authorMaryGamble,Ph.D.,associateprofessorofenvironmentalhealthsciencesatColumbia.

The Environmental Factor has featured stories on studies led by Ahsan in the past — one on arsenic and risk of death in 2010 (see story) and another on arsenic and smoking in 2011 (see story). Pierce was a co-author on the first one and Graziano was a co-author on both. (Photo courtesy of Habibul Ahsan)

43

Theresearchersconductedthestudywithparticipationfromalmost3,000peopleinBangladeshexposedtoarsenicfordecadesthroughtheirdrinkingwater.Abouthalfthecountry’spopulationhasbeenaccidentallyexposedtoarsenic,duetotheinstallationoftubewellstotapgroundwatersourcesinthe1970s.

An unbiased search of the genomeInthisgenome-wideassociationstudy,theresearchersgenotypedtheparticipantstolookforsmallgeneticchangesknownassinglenucleotidepolymorphisms(SNPs).TheyidentifiedseveralSNPsthatwerecommonamongthreegroupsofpeople—thosewithhighlevelsofthemosttoxicarsenicmetabolite,dimethylarsinicacid,peoplewhohadskinlesions,andpeoplewithreducedexpressionofthearsenicmetabolizingenzyme.

Thestudyalsoshowsthatsuchlarge-scalegenomicstudiesarepossibleinaruralpopulationofadevelopingcountryand,therefore,havepotentialfortranslationalimpact.

“Manygenomicsignalsthatweseearenotrobustenoughordonotpertaintoalargepopulation,”Ahsansaid.“But,inthisstudy,thefindingisrobustandtheimpactismassive.”ThestudywaspublishedonlineFeb.23inPLoSGenetics.

Citation:PierceBL,KibriyaMG,TongL,JasmineF,ArgosM,RoyS,Paul-BrutusR,RahamanR,Rakibuz-ZamanM,ParvezF,AhmedA,QuasemI,HoreSK,AlamS,IslamT,SlavkovichV,GambleMV,YunusM,RahmanM,BaronJA,GrazianoJH,AhsanH.2012.Genome-wideassociationstudyidentifieschromosome10q24.32variantsassociatedwitharsenicmetabolismandtoxicityphenotypesinBangladesh.PLoSGenet8(2):e1002522.

(AngelaSpiveyisacontractsciencewriterfortheNIEHSSuperfundResearchProgram.)

Return to Table of Contents

Small business explores new approaches in reproductive toxicology By Nancy Lamontagne

NIEHSgranteesPaulTurek,M.D.,andConstanceJohn,Ph.D.,ofMandalMedInc.,aredevelopingahuman-cellbasedtestismodeltostudyreproductivetoxicology.Suchasystemcouldprovideinformationnotavailablefromanimalstudies,becauseofdifferencesinhowhumansandanimalsrespondtoenvironmentalexposures.

TurekandJohnaresupportedbyanNIEHSSmallBusinessInnovationResearchgrant,whichfundsprojectswithcommercialpotential.John,thechiefexecutiveofficerofMandalMedInc.,estimatesthatitmaytakethreetofouryearstodevelopaproductfortestingthetoxicityofpotentialdrugsinthedevelopmentofsperm.“HopefullythemodelcanbeusedasanFDA-approvedadjuncttoanimaltestingduringdrugdevelopment,”shesaid.

As a ONES awardee, Pierce will receive five years of new investigator support from NIEHS (see story). He and Ahsan have collaborated on a series of studies on arsenic in a Bangladesh cohort. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Pierce)

44

Turek,whoisMandelMed’schiefmedicalofficerandalsohasamalefertilityclinicinSanFrancisco,added,“Wecoulddiscoverinformationthattellsusmoreabouthowtesticularcancerorinfertilitybegins.”

NIEHScurrentlysupportsanumberofprojectstodevelopthree-dimensionalhumantissueculturesystemstomoreaccuratelyreflectin vivoresponsestotoxicantexposuresinhumantissuesandorgans.Thesemodelsaredevelopedusingmultiplecelltypesthatreplicatetissuefunctionsmoreaccuratelythantraditionalcellculturesystemsusingasinglecelltype.Throughfundingofbothuniversityandsmallbusinessgrants,theNIEHShassupportedthedevelopmentofhumanmodelsofskin,eye,liver,andlung,toevaluatebiologicalresponsestoarangeoftoxicantexposures.TheseeffortsaddressgoalsoftheNationalToxicologyProgramInteragencyCenterfortheEvaluationofAlternativeToxicologicalMethodstorefine,reduce,orreplaceanimaluseintoxicologytesting.

Creating a functioning testis modelTocreateamodelofthetestis,theresearcherswillculturethreetypesofcellsinahollowfiber.Sertolicells,alsocallednursecells,areakeycomponent,becausetheysupportthestemcellsthateventuallydevelopintosperm,createtheblood-testisbarrier,andreducethebody’simmuneresponsestosperm.Tomakethemodelfunctional,theresearcherswillinducestemcellstodifferentiateintosperminsidethehollowfibers.Tureksaysthattheirworkwilllikelyprovideinsightthatwillbeusefulforotherapplicationsofstemcells.

Iftheresearcherssucceedincreatingafunctioningtestismodel,theycanbegintoexaminereproductivetoxicology.Thiswillinvolveexaminingtheeffectsofmolecules,onthevariouscelltypesinvolved,overthe70daysittakesforspermtodevelop.Theanalysiswilltaketimebutwillprovidehigh-qualityinformation.“Wedon’treallyknowwhatthetoxicologywilllooklike,”Tureksaid.“Wehypothesizethatmosteffectswillbeonthenursecells.”

Human challengesScientistshavesuccessfullyproducedartificialsperm,usingcellsfrommiceandotheranimals,buthavefailedtoproduceartificialspermusingculturedhumancells.Toovercomethischallenge,Turekgatheredexpertsinthevariouscelltypesandprocessesofspermatogenesistobepartoftheresearchteamworkingontheartificialtestis.

JohnhasworkedextensivelywithhumanSertolicellcultures,whicharecommerciallyavailableforresearchapplicationsfromMandalMed’sdistributorLonzainWalkersville,Md.TheteamalsoincludesReneeReijoPera,Ph.D.,ofStanfordUniversity,

Cultured human Sertoli cells, shown in this fluorescence image at 100X magnification, are a key part of the testis model. (Photo courtesy of Constance John)

Turek is the chief medical officer of MandalMed, based in San Francisco. (Photo courtesy of Paul Turek)

John, the founder and chief executive officer of MandalMed, thinks that a functioning model of the testis could have great commercial value. (Photo courtesy of Constance John)

45

whohascharacterizedgenesrequiredtocoaxhumanembryonicstemcellsintotheprecursorsofsperm;Chuen-yanCheng,Ph.D.,ofthePopulationCouncil’sCenterforBiomedicalResearchinNewYork,whohasshownthatcadmiumcandestroytheblood-testisbarrier;andJuanAréchaga,Ph.D.,whorunstheLaboratoryforStemCells,Development,andCancerattheUniversityoftheBasqueCountryinSpainandisanexpertinperitubularmyoidcells,whichmakeupthewallsofthechannelsinthetestiswherespermdevelop.

(NancyLamontagneisasciencewriterwithMDB,Inc.,acontractorfortheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining,SuperfundResearchProgram,andWorkerEducationandTrainingProgram.)

Return to Table of Contents

PEPH kicks off webinar series By Eddy Ball

TheNIEHSPartnershipsinEnvironmentalPublicHealth(PEPH)programpresentedthefirstinstallmentofitsenvironmentalhealthandeducationwebinarseriesFeb.28.Thewebinar,moderatedbyNIEHSProgramAnalystJerryPhelps,featuredthreescientificpresentationsexploringthethemeof“ConnectingEnvironmentalExposurestoChronicInflammationandDiseases.”

Accordingtoorganizers,thewebinarsstrivetopromoteinteractionsamongPEPHgrantees,andincreaseawarenessofemergingissuesandapproachesinenvironmentalpublichealth.ThePEPHumbrellaunitesresearchersinbasicandclinicalresearch,community-basedparticipatoryresearch,education,outreach,andenvironmentaljusticeinthepursuitofimprovedpublichealth.

Inflammation 101: How Is the Immune System Involved in Inflammation?StartingofftheprogramwasNIEHSHealthScientistAdministratorMichaelHumble,Ph.D.,whodiscussedthefirstlineofthebody’sdefenseagainstenvironmentalexposures,includingskin,mucus,andsaliva,andthesecondline,innateandadaptiveimmunity.Theimmunesystem,Humbleexplained,isresponsiblefordifferentiatingwhatis“self”andnormalfromthingsthatareforeign,suchasbacteria,virus,fungus,andparasites.

Innateimmunityisallaboutimmediaterepair,Humbleexplained,withitsmobilizationofmacrophages,initiationofinflammation,andrecruitmentoftheadaptiveimmuneresponse.“Therealgoalistokeepthehostalivelongenoughfortheadaptiveimmuneresponsetodevelop,”hesaid.Butifinflammation,whichisnormallycloselyregulatedwithinthebody,becomesexcessiveorprolonged,itsetsthestagefordisease.

Shown with his wife and co-author, Janice, Dietert translated his research in a 2010 book directed to parents and pediatricians, “Strategies for Protecting Your Child’s Immune System: Tools for Parents and Parents-To-Be.” (Photo courtesy of Cornell University)

Humble organized a 2010 state-of-the-science workshop on autoimmune diseases. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

46

Air Pollution Morbidity: Confounding Effects of Chronic InflammationNIEHSHealthScientistAdministratorSriNadadur,Ph.D.,openedhistalkwithareviewofmajorairpollutionevents,suchastheoneinDonora,Penn.in1948,andtheLondonkillersmogof1952thatinspiredtheCleanAirActof1963andthecreationoftheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyin1970,whichestablishedNationalAmbientAirQualityStandards.Inthisearlyperiodfollowingthewake-upcallsfromDonoraandLondon,Nadadurexplained,airpollutionwasregardedasprimarilyathreattorespiratoryhealth.

Asresearchadvanced,concernspreadtoairpollution’seffectsoncardiovascularhealthamongsusceptiblepopulationsandthen,bytheearly21stcentury,tolinkswithdiabetesmellitus,obesity,anddeficitsinreproductiveandneurologicaldevelopment.AccordingtoNadadur,recentresearchhasassociatedairpollutionexposurewithoxidativestressleadingtosystemicinflammationandlayingthefoundationfordevelopmentofchronicdiseasesandcancer.

Inflammation and Effects of Chronic DiseaseThefinalspeakerofthewebinar,RodneyDietert,Ph.D.,ofCornellUniversity,placedchronicinflammationandrelateddiseasesintoapolicyandeconomiccontext.Dietertsetthethemeforhistalkbysaying,“Thecombinationofapproachesweareusinginpublichealth[atthecurrenttime]arereallynotsustainablerelativetochronicdisease.”

HealsoreferredtofindingsbytheHarvardSchoolofPublicHealthandWorldEconomicForumreport,TheGlobalEconomicBurdenofNon-communicableDiseases.“Overthenext20years,”hesaid,“theestimatedcostofchronicdiseaseissome48percentofglobalGDP[grossdomesticproduct],andalreadychronicdiseasesaretheleadingkillersworldwide.”

Dietertproceededtobuildacompellingcaseforfundamentallyrethinkingapproachestochronicdiseases,toincorporatetheroleofenvironmentalexposuresduringcriticalwindowsofmaturation.Hecalledforanewapproachinthecategorization,diagnosis,andtreatmentofautoimmunedisease,withanewfunctionalparadigmtobetteraddresstheunderlyingimmunedysfunctionthatisthecauseofmostchronicdisease.

“Wealsoshouldhaveoutcome-basedsafetytesting[to]giveusinformationaboutthosediseasesthatarethemostsignificantpublichealththreats,”hetoldtheaudience.Healsocalledforconcertedeffortstobothmanagesymptomsandcorrecttheunderlyingimmunedysfunctionatthecellularlevel,toreduceriskforadditionalimmune-basedchronicdiseaseacrossalifetimeandcancerriskintargettissues.

Return to Table of Contents

Nadadur oversees grants for nanomaterial research, as well as for work on air pollution. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

PEPH webinar series continuesThePEPHwebinarsarefreeandopentothepublic,butpre-registrationisrequired.Toregisterforthewebinars,visithttps://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/198613834.

Upcomingseminarsincludethefollowing:• April 3:ExaminingandCommunicatingtheHealthImplicationofArsenicinourFoodSystem

• April/May:MappingandEnvironmentalPublicHealth:VisualizingHealthDisparitiesandtheEffectsofPollution

• May:HealthImpactAssessmentsandCommunityEngagement

• June:Science-basedDecisionMaking• July:HydraulicFracturing

47

High-throughput screening finds surprising properties for antioxidants By Larry Thompson

Antioxidantshavelongbeenthoughttohaveanti-agingproperties,primarilybyprotectingaperson’sgeneticmaterialfromdamagingchemicals.Thestory,however,nowappearstobemuchmorecomplicated.

NationalInstitutesofHealthresearchersfromtwoinstitutesandonecenterhavedemonstratedthatsomeanti-oxidantsdamageDNAandkillcellsinsteadofprotectingthem.Thefindings,publishedMarch19intheProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences,alsosuggestthatthissurprisingcapabilitymaybegoodfortreatingcancer,butmayprovecautionarywhenusingantioxidant-basedmedicinestotreatotherdisorders,suchasdiabetes.

An unexpected discovery“It’sanunexpecteddiscovery,”saidKyungjaeMyung,Ph.D.,aseniorresearcherintheGeneticsandMolecularBiologyBranchoftheNationalHumanGenomeResearchInstitute(NHGRI),andtheseniorauthoronthereport.

“Thisreportdemonstratestheabilityofthehighthroughputscreeningprogramtogeneratefindingsthatmayimpactonhumanhealth,”saidco-authorRaymondTice,Ph.D.,chiefoftheNIEHS/NTPBiomolecularScreeningBranch.“Inthiscase,thetechnologyishelpingtoidentifypotentialdrugcandidatesfortreatingcancer.”

Manypeopleattempttoboosttheirlevelsofantioxidantsbyeatingfruitsandvegetables,nutsandgrains,orbytakingsupplements.Byaddingantioxidantstothediet,manypeoplehopetoslowdowntheprocessthatsomebelievecontributestothenormalprocessofaging.

DNA repairMyungdidnotsetouttochallengethisanti-agingstrategy.HislabstudiesDNArepair,theenzymesystemswithinacellthatfixmistakesandotherdamageaccumulatingroutinelyinDNAascellsliveanddivide.ResearchersknowthatnaturallyoccurringdefectsinDNArepaircanleadtoanumberofdisorders,includingcancer.

Myung’s laboratory investigates genome instability, which is a characteristic of cancer and many genetic disorders, by examining the mechanisms of DNA repair and replication, as well as their roles in the production and suppression of gross chromosomal rearrangements. (Photo courtesy of NHGRI)

Linked video:

Watch more videos of production line robots.

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Flash

Linked video:

Watch a tilt-down wide shot showing three yellow robot arms moving plates in the testing production line (00:19)

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Flash

48

Myung’sgroupsoughtanewwaytoeasilyidentifychemicalsthatdamageDNAandthenusethosechemicalstostudycellularrepairmechanisms,abasicresearchquestion.Usingalaboratory-growncelllinefromhumankidneys,theteamdevelopedanovellaboratorytestthatreadilyshowswhenachemicalexposuredamagesDNA.

Withthetestdeveloped,Myung’steamformedcollaborationswithtwootherNIHresearchgroups.ThefirstwaswithwhatisnowtheNIHNationalCenterforAdvancingTranslationalSciences(NCATS).Overthelastseveralyears,ateamleadbyChristopherAustin,M.D.,headoftheNCATSlabs,hasdevelopedhigh-throughputchemicalscreeningsystemsusingrobotics.AustinagreedtouseMyung’stesttoscreenthousandsofchemicalsfortheirabilitytodamageDNA.Butwhatchemicalsshouldtheytest?

Tox21 — testing chemicals faster and more efficientlyIn2008,NCATS(thenpartofNHGRI),NIEHS/NTP,andtheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)formedtheTox21initiativetodevelophigh-throughputscreeningteststhatmeasurecellularharmcausedbyenvironmentalchemicals.TheTox21teamcreatedalibraryofsome2,000compoundsandagreedtotestthemagainstMyung’sassay.TheNHGRIresearchersalsoaddedacommerciallyavailablechemicalcollectiontothescreeningrunsforatotalofsome4,000chemicals.

Thescreeningrunsproducedsurprises,identifying22antioxidantsthatdamagedDNA.Threeoftheantioxidants—resveratrol,genistein,andbaicalein—arecurrentlyusedorbeingstudiedasananti-agingintervention,aswellasatreatmentforseveraldisorders,includingheartdisease,type2diabetes,osteopeniaandosteoporosis,andchronichepatitis.

NotonlydidtheantioxidantsdamagetheDNA,theresearchersfound,but,individingcellssuchasintumors,theantioxidantscouldbelethal,killingthedisease-causingcells.DespitetheirabilitytodamageDNA,thechemicalsdidnotcausegeneticmutations,makingthemparticularlygoodcandidatesforimprovedcancerdrugs.

Cool biology — new research avenues“Thisiswhat’scoolaboutbiology,”Austinsaid.“Justwhenwethinkweunderstandsomething,itturnsouttobemorecomplexthanwethought.NotonlydidtheNHGRIteamproduceanovelwaytomeasureDNAdamage,buttheirtesthasgivenusinsightsintotheeffectsofchemicalcompoundsthatwerenotseeninmoreconventionalstrategies.”

Thediscoveryopensupseveralnewlinesofresearch.Asafirststep,thecollaboratorsaredramaticallyexpandingthenumberofcompounds—morethan300,000—tobescreenedwiththenewtest.TheTox21teamalsohasdecidedtoincludethetestinitsstandardscreenforbiologicalharmproducedbyenvironmentalchemicals.

Citation:FoxJT,SakamuruS,HuangR,TenevaN,SimmonsSO,XiaM,TiceRR,AustinCP,MyungK.2012.High-throughputgenotoxicityassayidentifiesantioxidantsasinducersofDNAdamageresponseandcelldeath.ProcNatlAcadSciUSA;doi:10.1073/pnas.1114278109[Online19March2012].

Tice is the lead coordinator for the NTP High Throughput Screening (HTS) Initiative and plays a key role in the efforts of the Tox21 community. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

49

(LarryThompsonisthecommunicationsdirectorfortheNationalHumanGenomeResearchInstitute.)

Return to Table of Contents

This month in EHP By Ian Thomas

Awidespreadunderappreciationofthehumanhealthbenefitsandotherservicesprovidedbyecosystemsmeanstheseservicesoftenarenotfactoredintodecisionsaboutnaturalresourcemanagement.Initsfeaturestorythismonth,EnvironmentalHealthPerspectives(EHP)takesontheissueofassigningactualdollarvaluestoecosystemservices,asasteptowardbettermanagingthemand,thus,preservinghumanhealth.

Findings about compounds that damage DNA, but may treat cancerTheclinicalimplicationsforthesefindingsaremorecomplicated.Thisinitialdiscoveryisonlyinlab-growncelllines,noteveninintactorganisms.Therelevanceforhumanshasyettobedemonstrated.

Still,thereisplentyofworkalreadyunderway.OtherresearchteamshavelaunchedvariousstudiesoftheseDNA-damagingantioxidantsinvariousdiseases.Forexample,44studiesarecurrentlylistedinwww.clinicaltrials.govforresveratrol,whichisfoundinmanyfoods,includingredgrapesandwine,peanuts,andchocolate.ThestudiesfocusontreatingAlzheimer’sdisease,type2diabetes,obesity,inflammation,coloncancer,multiplemyeloma,andtestingotheranti-agingstrategies,amongothers.Thenewlyreportedstudydoesnotsuggestthatresveratrolinredwineisharmful,becausethedoseisprobablytoolowtobesignificant,Myungsaid.

Researchersalsohavelaunched43studiesongenistein,includingtrialstotreatcancersoftheprostate,pancreas,bladder,breast,kidney,andskin(metastaticmelanoma)andasadjuncttreatmentsforrarediseases,suchascysticfibrosis.

EventhoughtheantioxidantsdamagedtheDNA,theresearchersreportedthatthechemicalsdidnotcausegeneticmutations—anothersurprise.“Becausetheydon’tcausegeneticmutations,antioxidantsmaybeusefulfortreatingcancer,”Myungsaid.“Standardchemotherapymutatesthetumor’sDNA,speedingitsevolutionandsometimesallowingittoescapethetoxictreatmentintendedtokillit.Thisleadstomultidrugresistanceinsomecancerpatient’sdisease.”

Totestwhethertheantioxidantsmighthelp,theNHGRIteamborrowedsomemultidrugresistantcancercellsfromMichaelGottesman,Ph.D.,aNationalCancerInstituteresearcherandNIHDeputyDirectorforIntramuralResearch.Althoughthesecellsareveryresistanttoanticancerdrugs,treatmentwithresveratrolappearedtosensitizethecancercells,leadingtotheirdeath.“Resveratrol,”Myungsaid,“couldproveusefulintreatingmultidrugresistantcancers.”

Thefindingsdoraiseconcernsaboutusingantioxidantstotreatdisorders,astreatmentwithhighdosesmaycauseunexpectedDNAdamagethatleadstootherproblems.“Clearly,”Myungsaid,“muchmorestudywillbeneeded.”

http://twitter.com/ehponline

50

Asecondstoryexaminesnewtoolsforcapturinginformationaboutindividualexposomes,thecompilationofthingsanindividualisexposedtooveralifetime.ThetoolswerediscussedatarecentworkshopoftheNationalAcademies’EmergingScienceforEnvironmentalHealthDecisionscommittee.

Inthismonth’sResearcher’sPerspectivePodcast,hostAshleyAhearninterviewsguestsFayJohnstonandSarahHendersonabouttheirlatestworkestimatingglobalmortalityattributabletosmokefromlandscapefires.

Featuredcommentaries,reviews,andresearchthismonthincludethefollowing:

• PublicHealthImpactsofEnvironmentalChemicalsonNeurodevelopment

• RegulationofAdiposeTissueInflammationbyPollutants• GlobalTrendsinInsecticideUseforVectorControl• AcuteChildhoodLeadPoisoninginNigeria

(IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistintheNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaisonandaregularcontributortotheEnvirnomentalFactor.)

Return to Table of Contents

Wilson honored by Columbia University By Eddy Ball

NIEHSleadresearcherSamuelWilson,M.D.,willpresentthe19thannualGranvilleH.SewellDistinguishedLectureinEnvironmentalHealthApril18atColumbiaUniversity.Wilson,whoheadstheDNARepairandNucleicAcidEnzymologyGroupintheLaboratoryofStructuralBiology,willaddress“Implicationsofgenetictoxicologyinpublichealth.”

Underhisleadership,Wilson’sgrouphasmadeanumberofcontributionsovertheyearstotheunderstandingofmechanismsofDNAsynthesisand,inparticular,synthesisbytherepairenzymeDNApolymerasebeta.Heandhiscolleaguesidentifiedthekineticmechanismofthisenzyme,itsprimaryandthree-dimensionalstructures,anditsbiologicalroleinbaseexcisionDNArepair.ThisDNArepairpathwayprotectscellsagainstendogenousDNAlesions,includingsingle-strandbreaks.

Wilson,whoservedasNIEHSdeputydirectorfrom1996to2007andactingdirectorfrom2007to2009,hasreceivedmanyhonorsforhisresearch.AlongwithelectionasafellowoftheAmerican

Wilson is a scientist who regularly publishes in high-impact journals. He is also widely regarded as a high-quality mentor of the next generation of biomedical researchers. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

51

AssociationfortheAdvancementofSciencein2009,WilsonhasgivenanumberofkeynoteandnamedlecturesintheU.S.andabroad.Hehaseditedseveralbooksandauthoredorco-authoredmorethan365peer-reviewedresearcharticles.

Joining a select group of leaders in environment health scienceInauguratedin1993,thelectureserieswasestablishedinmemoryofGranvilleSewell,Ph.D.,whodirectedtheeducationalprogramsinenvironmentalhealthsciencesatColumbiaformorethan20yearspriortohisdeathin1992.Sewellwasapioneeringlobalenvironmentalhealth.Withhisbackgroundinengineeringandeconomics,SewellemphasizedthesocialcontextforenvironmentalproblemsandtheirremediesinprojectsacrossAsia,theMiddleEast,andAfrica.

WilsonjoinsagroupofdistinguishedscientistswhohavebeenhonoredbytheSewelllectureshipfortheiraccomplishmentsinenvironmentalscience.TheyrangefrombioethicistPeterSinger;entomologistE.O.Wilson,Ph.D.;andmicrobiologistRitaColwell,Ph.D.,toformerDirectoroftheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyCarolBrownerandJamesHansen,Ph.D.,directoroftheNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministrationGoddardInstituteforSpaceStudies.Topicshaverangedfromacidrainandcholeratoremoteglobalsensingandclimatechange.

AlongwithWilson,twootherSewelllecturershavehadtiestoNIEHS.NIEHSgranteeKirkSmith,Ph.D.,spokein2011on“CookingandClimate:TheUnfinishedHealthAgendaofIncompleteCombustion”and,in2000,formerNIEHSScientificDirectorCarlBarrett,Ph.D.,explored“NewApproachestotheStudyofEnvironmentalCausesofDisease.”

Return to Table of Contents

Rodbell lecture to feature Keith Yamamoto By Eddy Ball

BiochemistKeithYamamoto,Ph.D.,willpresentthe2012RodbellLecture,“Cell-,Gene-,andPhysiology-SpecificRegulationbytheGlucocorticoidReceptor,”April10atNIEHS.Thepresentation,whichbeginsat11:00a.m.inRodbellAuditorium,willbehostedbyNIEHSLaboratoryofMolecularCarcinogenesischiefTrevorArcher,Ph.D.,andNIEHSLaboratoryofSignalTransductionchiefJohnCidlowski,Ph.D.

YamamotoisaprofessorofcellularandmolecularpharmacologyattheUniversityofCalifornia,SanFrancisco(UCSF),wherehealsoservesasvicechancellorforresearchandexecutivevicedeanoftheSchoolofMedicine.Hisresearchisfocusedonsignalingandtranscriptionalregulationbyintracellularreceptors(IR),whichmediatetheactionsofseveralclassesofessentialhormonesandcellularsignals.TheYamamotolabemploysbiochemical,cellular,molecular,genetic,andstructuralapproachesinmammals,C. elegans,andyeasttoinvestigateIRfunctionsandmechanisms.

As part of his commitment to the future of science, Yamamoto served on the Board on Life Sciences Committee on A New Biology for the 21st Century: Ensuring the United States Leads the Coming Biology Revolution, which presented its report to Congress in 2010. (Photo courtesy of UCSF)

52

Inthecourseofhis39-yearcareeratUCSF,Yamamotohaspublishedmorethan170peer-reviewedstudiesinhigh-impactjournals,editedthreebooks,writtensome20scienceandpublicpolicyarticles,andgivenmanydistinguished,honorary,andkeynotelectures.HehasbeenactiveinserviceatUCSFandnationally,andhehasservedontheeditorialboardsof18majorjournals.HislonglistofhonorsincludesanNIHMERITAward,majorfellowships,andthisyear’sEndocrineSocietyEdwinB.AstwoodAward.

Nowinits13thyear,theRodbellLectureisoneoftwonamedtalksintheannualNIEHSDistinguishedLectureSeries.IthonorsformerNIEHSScientificDirectorandNobelLaureateMartinRodbell,Ph.D.,whopresentedthefirsttalkintheseriesshortlybeforehisdeathin1998.Rodbellsharedthe1994NobelPrizeinPhysiologyorMedicinewithAlfredGilman,Ph.D.,forthediscoveryofG-proteins,signaltransducersthattransmitandmodulatesignalsincellstocontrolfundamentallifeprocesses.

Return to Table of Contents

Staff and grantees at upcoming workshop By Eddy Ball

AninnovativeinteragencyprogramsponsoredbyNIEHSopensits2012workshopserieswithanexplorationof“BiologicalFactorsthatUnderlieIndividualSusceptibilitytoEnvironmentalStressors,andTheirImplicationsforDecision-Making”April18-19inWashington,D.C.NTPHostSusceptibilityGroupleaderJefFrench,Ph.D.,NIEHSgrantees,andseveralNIEHSresearchassociateswillbeamongthepresenters.

Theworkshop,whichispartoftheNationalAcademies’EmergingScienceforEnvironmentalHealthDecisionsseries,isfreeandopentothepublic.Registrationsarenowbeingacceptedforattendeesathttp://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/788909/Individual-Variability-Registrationandforthelivewebcastathttp://www.tvworldwide.com/events/nrc/120418/.

Why individuals may respond differently to environmental exposureTheworkshopwillfocusontheendogenousandbiologicalfactorsthatinfluenceindividualvariabilityinresponsetoenvironmentalexposures,suchasgeneticsandepigenetics,physiology,lifestage,andotherbiologicaldifferences.Presenterswillexplorenewandinnovativeapproachesforcharacterizingindividualvariability,aswellasapproachesforandchallengestocommunicatingtherelationshipsamongindividualvariability,diseasesusceptibility,andpublichealth.

French is scheduled to present a talk on his work using a mouse model, “Using In Vivo Animal Models to Explore Individual Variability in Toxicity.” (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Linked video:

Watch as Yamamoto describes his vision of the future of science at UCSF (04:23)

(Launches in new window)

Download Media Player: Flash

53

SponsoredbyNIEHS,theprogramholdsthreeworkshopsperyearontheuseofnewdiscoveries,tools,andapproachesforguidingenvironmentalhealthdecisions.Theworkshopsprovideapublicvenueforcommunicationamonggovernment,industry,environmentalgroups,andtheacademiccommunity.

TheAprilworkshopisthetenthintheseries,whichbeganinJuly2009withaworkshopon“UseofEmergingScienceandTechnologiestoExploreEpigeneticMechanismsUnderlyingtheDevelopmentalBasisforDisease.”Pastpresentationsarearchivedonline,andvideosareavailableforseveralrecentworkshops.

Return to Table of Contents

Extramural papers of the month By Nancy Lamontagne

• Air pollution linked to cognitive decline

• Predicting sudden changes in pollution patterns

• Epigenetic interactions between flame retardant exposure and autism mutation

• Early BPA exposure and asthma development

Air pollution linked to cognitive declineNIEHSgranteesreportthatafasterdeclineinthecognitivefunctionofolderwomenisassociatedwithlong-termexposuretoparticulatematter(PM)airpollutionatlevelstypicalofmanyareasoftheUnitedStates.ThisisoneofthefirststudiestoexaminetheroleofPMincognitivedeclineovertime.

TheresearchersevaluatedexposurestobothcoarseandfinePMinrelationtocognitivedeclineintheNurses’HealthStudyCognitiveCohort,whichincludedmorethan19,000U.S.women70to81.Theinvestigatorsperformedbaselineandfollow-upcognitivetestingthatexaminedgeneralcognition,verbalmemory,categoryfluency,workingmemory,andattention.Theyalsousedgeographicinformationsystem(GIS)-basedmodelstoestimateexposuresoverseveralintervals,includingtheprecedingmonthandtheprevioussevento14years.

Thestudyshowedthathigherlevelsoflong-termexposuretobothcoarseandfinePMareassociatedwithsignificantlyfastercognitivedecline.Theresearchersestimatethata10-microgrampercubicmeterincreaseinlong-termPMexposurewascognitivelyequivalenttoagingbyapproximatelytwoyears.Ifthefindingsareconfirmedinotherstudies,reducingairpollutioncouldofferawaytolessenage-relatedcognitivedeclineand,becausecognitivedeclineoftenprecedesthedevelopmentofdementia,awaytoreducethefuturepopulationburdenofdementia.

Citation:WeuveJ,PuettRC,SchwartzJ,YanoskyJD,LadenF,GrodsteinF.2012.Exposuretoparticulateairpollutionandcognitivedeclineinolderwomen.ArchInternMed172(3):219-227.

Return to Table of Contents

ReadthecurrentSuperfundResearchProgramResearchBrief.NewissuesarepublishedonthefirstWednesdayofeachmonth.

54

Predicting sudden changes in pollution patternsAnNIEHSgranteeandhercolleaguehavedevelopedatechniqueforforecastingmajorshort-termchangesinhowoilspillswillmoveintheocean.Themethod,whichisalsoapplicabletoharmfulalgalbloomsandvolcanicashclouds,offersatoolforminimizingtheimpactofenvironmentaldisasters.

Overthelastdecade,theresearchershavedevelopedmathematicalmethodstodescribehiddenpatternsinthewaythatairandwatermove,knownasLagrangiancoherentstructures(LCSs).ThenewtechniqueusesthesemathematicalmethodstodetectLCScores,whichuniteincomingflowfromoppositedirectionsandejecttheresultingmassofwaterorair.LCScoresemergebeforeasuddenshapechangeinthecontaminationpatternand,thus,allowtheforecastofdramaticchangesthatwerepreviouslyconsideredunpredictable.

Asademonstration,theresearchersshowedthatthemethodcouldhaveforecastthetigertailandcoastalspreadinstabilitiesthatoccurredintheDeepwaterHorizonoilspill.Theydevelopedhigh-precisionforecastsofthelocationandtimeofthesemajorinstabilities,bydetectingtwostrongLCScoresfourtosixdaysbeforetheinstabilitieswereobserved.

Citation:OlascoagaMJ,HallerG.2012.Forecastingsuddenchangesinenvironmentalpollutionpatterns.ProcNatlAcadSciUSA;doi:10.1073/pnas.1118574109[Online12March2012].

Return to Table of Contents

Epigenetic interactions between flame retardant exposure and autism mutationNIEHSgranteesstudyingtheeffectsofflameretardantexposureonamousemodelofautismsusceptibilityfoundthattheoffspringofexposedmicehadanincreasedriskforneurodevelopmentaldeficitsassociatedwithreducedsociabilityandlearning.Theworkprovidesinsightintotheepigeneticinterfaceofgene-environmentinteractionsthatareinvolvedinthesocialandcognitivebehaviorsassociatedwithneurodevelopmentaldisorders.

TheresearchersexaminedtheeffectsoftheflameretardantBDE-47ontheoffspringofmicegeneticallymodifiedtohaveaMecp2genemutation(Mecp2(308)).Mutationsintheepigeneticfactormethyl-CpGbindingprotein2(MECP2),causeRettsyndrome,anX-linkedautismspectrumdisorder.

Thestudyresultsshowedgene-environmentinteractionsoccurredinthefemale,butnotthemale,offspringofthemicewiththeMecp2mutation.BDE-47exposurehadanegativeimpactonpupsurvivalandlearninginadultfemales.FemalemicereceivingperinatalexposuretotheflameretardanthadsignificantlylowerDNAmethylationlevelsintheadultbrain,andthesemethylationlevelscorrelatedwithdecreasedsocialbehavior.However,theMecp2mutationreversedasocialnovelty-learningdefectbroughtonbyBDE-47exposure,inawaythatcorrespondedtoincreasedlevelsofthemethyltransferaseDnmt3agene,whichisrequiredforlearningandmemoryinthemousebrain.

Citation:WoodsR,ValleroRO,GolubMS,SuarezJK,TaTA,YasuiDH,ChiLH,KostyniakPJ,PessahIN,BermanRF,LasalleJM.2012.Long-livedepigeneticinteractionsbetweenperinatalPBDEexposureandMecp2(308)mutation.HumMolGenet;doi:10.1093/hmg/dds046[Online15February2012].

Return to Table of Contents

55

Early BPA exposure and asthma developmentAnNIEHS-supportedgranteeandcolleaguesreportthatprenatalbisphenolA(BPA)exposurepromotesthedevelopmentofallergicasthmainamousemodel.TheyalsoprovideevidencethatonereasonthemicearesusceptibleduringtheprenatalperiodmightbebecauseBPA-metabolizingenzymeshavenotyetdeveloped.

ThemicereceivedBPAintheirdrinkingwaterbeginningatoneweekbeforepregnancy.ToseparatetheeffectsfromprenatalBPAexposureandearly-postnatalexposure,theresearcherstransferredsomepupsafterbirthfromtheirBPA-exposedmothertoanunexposedmotherorviceversa.Halfofthepupsweresensitizedwithanexperimentalallergenandthenlaterchallengedbyinhalationsoftheallergen.TheresearchersfoundthatthepupsexposedtoBPAprenatallyonly,orprenatallyandthroughbreastmilk,developedasthmaaftertheallergicchallenge.Pupsthatreceivedonlypostnatalexposuredidnotdevelopasthma.

TolookforapossiblemechanismforBPA’senhancementofasthmadevelopment,theinvestigatorsassessedtheexpressionofUgt2b1,anenzymethatmetabolizesBPA.Theyfoundthattheenzymewasnotdetectableinmousefetusesandnewbornpups,butitslevelsincreasedbydayfiveandapproachedadultlevelsbyday25.Whetherthismechanismisatworkinhumansmuststillbestudied.

Citation:NakajimaY,GoldblumRM,Midoro-HoriutiT.2012.FetalexposuretobisphenolAasariskfactorforthedevelopmentofchildhoodasthma:ananimalmodelstudy.EnvironHealth11:8.

(NancyLamontagneisasciencewriterwithMDB,Inc.,acontractorfortheNIEHSDivisionofExtramuralResearchandTraining,SuperfundResearchProgram,andWorkerEducationandTrainingProgram.)

Return to Table of Contents

Intramural papers of the month By Brant Hamel, Sonika Patial, Jeffrey Stumpf, and Ian Thomas

• Researchers find novel binding target for rotenone

• Novel role for a DNA polymerase in repairing damaged bases in C. elegans

• (Bi)sulfite oxidation prompts neutrophils to produce free radicals

• Synthetic estrogen induces feminization in male mice via ERalpha

Researchers find novel binding target for rotenonePreviousepidemiologystudieshaveshownthatchronicexposuretorotenone,acommonpesticide,canreproduceParkinsonisminrodentsandincreasetheriskofParkinson’sdiseaseinhumans.InanewstudyfromtheNIEHSLaboratoryofToxicologyandPharmacology,scientistsdiscoveredanovelmechanismthatexplainshowthisprocessworks.

TheinvestigatorstransfectedCOS7cellswithcytoplasmicsubunitsofthehumanphagocyteNADPHoxidase(PHOX),p47(phox)andp67(phox),andthemembranesubunits,gp91(phox),thecatalyticsubunitofPHOX,

56

andp22(phox).Theirdatasuggeststhatthebindingofrotenonetogp91(phox)causesaconformationalchangethatallowsp67(phox)tobindtotherotenone/gp91(phox)complex.Thisbindingcreatesafunctionaloxidasethatgeneratessuperoxide.Also,thescientistsobservedthat,inresponsetorotenone,superoxideproductioninp47(phox)-deficientmacrophagesstilloccurs,whichmeansp47(phox)isnotrequiredforthismechanism.

ThisstudyclarifiesthatPHOXisanoveltargetofrotenoneanddemonstratesadistinctmechanismbywhichthepesticiderotenonetriggersinflammation-mediatedexcessiveproductionoffreeradicals.Oxidativestress-relateddamagetocellularproteinsandnucleicacidsmaybeanimportantmechanismofpesticide-induceddegenerationofnervetissue.

Citation:ZhouH,ZhangF,ChenSH,ZhangD,WilsonB,HongJS,GaoHM.2012.RotenoneactivatesphagocyteNADPHoxidasebybindingtoitsmembranesubunitgp91phox.FreeRadicBiolMed52(2):303-313.

Return to Table of Contents

Novel role for a DNA polymerase in repairing damaged bases in C. elegansWithgenomesbeingconstantlybombardedwithDNAdamagingagents,organismsrequireproteinsthatprotectthenucleotidealterationsthatdisruptcellularfunction.NIEHSresearchersidentifiedawrinkleinacanonicalDNArepairpathwaythat,inmanyorganisms,requiresthespecializedDNApolymerasepolbeta.ThestudyshowstheinvolvementofanotherspecializedDNApolymerase,poltheta,inacriticalstepinbaseexcisionrepair.

BaseexcisionrepairisamajorpathwaytoclearDNAdamageandtoavoidcancer-causinglesions.Afterrecognitionofthedamage,thecombinedactionsofadamage-specificglycosylaseandAPendonucleaseexcisethedamagedbaseandpreparetheDNAforapolymerasetoreplicatethesmallgap,resultinginarepairedDNAtemplate.

TheresearchersusedtheroundwormC. eleganstostudybaseexcisionrepair.C. elegansisusedfordevelopmentalbiologybecausethefateofeverycellisknown,makingitanimportantmodelorganismtounderstandbasiclifeprocesses.ThisstudyshowsthatbaseexcisionrepairinC. elegansrequiresreplicationbypolthetaandthatthismodelorganismdoesnothaveageneforpolbeta.Althoughtheoverallfunctionofpolthetaisnotwellunderstood,theseresultssuggestpolthetaasaviablealternativetopolbetainbaseexcisionrepair.

Citation:AsagoshiK,LehmannW,BraithwaiteEK,Santana-SantosL,PrasadR,FreedmanJH,VanHoutenB,WilsonSH.2012.Single-nucleotidebaseexcisionrepairDNApolymeraseactivityinC.elegansintheabsenceofDNApolymerasebeta.NucleicAcidsRes40(2):670-681.

Return to Table of Contents

(Bi)sulfite oxidation prompts neutrophils to produce free radicalsNewresearchfromscientistsatNIEHShavedeterminedthatthetoxicityof(bi)sulfiteinpatientssufferingfromasthmaandotherpulmonarydisordersmayresultfromitsabilitytoinducetheproductionofhighlyreactivefreeradicals,suchasthesulfateandsulfiteanionradicalinneutrophils.Thesefreeradicalscanthenoxidizeproteinsinsideofthecellandcausecellulardamage.

57

(Bi)sulfitecanbeformedinthelungbythehydrationofsulfurdioxide,amajorairpollutantreleasedbythecombustionoffossilfuels.Itisalsousedasapreservativeandanti-browningagentinmanyfoods.Usingelectronspinresonance(ESR)spectroscopy,NIEHSresearchersdemonstratedthattheabilityofneutrophilstocreatethesecompoundswasdependentonthemyeloperoxidase(MPO)enzyme.MPOisaveryabundantprotein—almost5percentofcellweight.Itissecretedfromactiveneutrophilsandisknowntocatalyzetheformationofcytotoxicoxidantsinvolvedininflammatorydisorders.

UsingspecificinhibitorsofMPO,researcherscouldnotdetectradicalformation,thusimplicatingMPOasnecessaryforthegenerationof(bi)sulfite-derivedfreeradicals.Researchershopethattheelucidationofthismechanismwillleadtofuturestudiestoexaminethedeleteriouseffectsof(bi)sulfiteinrespiratorydisorders.

Citation:RanguelovaK,RiceAB,KhajoA,TriquigneauxM,GarantziotisS,MagliozzoRS,MasonRP.2012.Formationofreactivesulfite-derivedfreeradicalsbytheactivationofhumanneutrophils:AnESRstudy.FreeRadicBiolMed;doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.01.016[Online2February2012].

Return to Table of Contents

Synthetic estrogen induces feminization in male mice via ERalphaInanewstudy,NIEHSscientistsfoundthatestrogenreceptoralpha(ERalpha)isresponsibleformediatingthetoxiceffectsofdiethylstilbestrol(DES),apotentsyntheticestrogen,ontheseminalvesiclesofmalemiceinducingfeminization.TheharmfuleffectsofDESexposureonthedevelopmentofthemalerodentreproductivetractwerewellknown.Theresultsofthisstudy,however,showthatthedevelopingmalereproductivetractexpressesestrogenreceptorsandishighlysensitivetothetoxicologicaleffectsofexogenousestrogensthroughERalpha.

TheauthorsinjectedDESatpostnataldays1-5inwild-type(WT),ERalphaorERbetaknockoutmalemice.DESexposureledtoadramaticreductionintheweightoftheseminalvesiclesandinducedtheexpressionoflactoferrin,anestrogen-inducibleuterinesecretoryprotein.ItalsodecreasedtheexpressionofseminalvesiclesecretoryproteinIVinWTandERbetaknockoutmice.However,theseeffectswerenotseeninERalphaknockoutmice,suggestingthatERalphamediatesDES-inducedfeminizationinmalemice.

AlthoughtheriskofDESexposureinhumansduringdevelopmentisrelativelylow,theresultsimplythatgenisteinandbisphenolA,twootherestrogeniccompoundstowhichhumansarewidelyexposed,couldhavesimilareffects.

Citation:WalkerVR,JeffersonWN,CouseJF,KorachKS.2012.Estrogenreceptoralpha(ERα)mediatesdiethylstilbestrol(DES)-inducedfeminizationoftheseminalvesicleinmalemice.EnvironHealthPerspect;doi:10.1289/ehp.1103678[Online24January2012].

(BrantHamelPh.D.,isanIntramuralResearchTrainingAward(IRTA)fellowintheNIEHSLaboratoryofSignalTransduction.SonikaPatial,D.V.M.,Ph.D.,isavisitingfellowintheNIEHSLaboratoryofSignalTransduction.JeffreyStumpf,Ph.D.,isanIRTAfellowintheNIEHSLaboratoryofMolecularGenetics.IanThomasisapublicaffairsspecialistwiththeNIEHSOfficeofCommunicationsandPublicLiaison,andaregularcontributortotheEnvironmentalFactor.)

Return to Table of Contents

58

Inside the InstituteSpring cleaning day for the NIEHS lake By Eddy Ball

Althoughitwasn’tofficiallyspringyetwhenNIEHSemployeespickeduplitterinandaroundthecampuslakeMarch13,itwasagreattimeforalakeshorecleansweep.

Theweather,withclearskiesandtemperatureapproaching70degrees,wasjustrightfortheeffort,whichwasorganizedbytheNIEHSEnvironmentalAwarenessAdvisoryCommittee(EAAC).And,astheEAACannouncementnoted,itwasstillwinter,whichmeantinactivereptilesandlessvegetationtohidethetrash.

Overthewinter,windshadblowntheoccasionalpieceofwastefrompicnictables,trashcans,andcarelesshikersintotheundergrowthandwater,soasmallgroupofvolunteersdonnedoutdoorclothingandtooktrashbagsdowntotheshoretogetthejobdone.TheEAACprovidedsomeglovesandrubberbootsforthevolunteers.

JoiningNIEHSHealthandSafetyBranch(HSB)EnvironmentalSpecialistBillSteinmetzwereHSBHazardousWasteSpecialistCarranzaSmith,biologistBillWillis,andDeputyAssociateDirectorofManagementChrisLong.PhotographerSteveMcCawandsonPatrickstoppedbytotakeafewphotosandhelpoutwithpolicingtheentireshoreline,includingtheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)side.

Bythetimetheyfinished,thegroundswerepristine.It’satributetotheenvironmentalawarenessofNIEHSandEPAemployeesthatthevolunteerlakestewardscollectedlessthanonelargetrashbagofplasticbottles,piecesofStyrofoam,fishingbobbers,andagolfball,whichSteinmetzsaidthevolunteerskeptforfuturereuse.

As Willis looked on, Steinmetz took advantage of rubber boots and used a long branch to extend his reach farther into the water. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Most of the lake’s residents and visitors seemed to have little interest in what was happening on shore. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Patrick McCaw, left, works with Long, as they look for litter. Long dressed appropriately for the task and brought along the right tool for the job. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

59

Return to Table of Contents

The e-Factor, which is produced by the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, is the staff newsletter at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. It is published as a communication service to NIEHS employees. We welcome your comments and suggestions. The content is not copyrighted. It can be downloaded and reprinted without permission. If you are an editor who wishes to use our material in your publication, we ask that you send us a copy for our records.• Director of Communications: Christine Bruske• Writer-Editor: Eddy Ball• Science Editor: Robin Arnette

Part of the reward for a job well done was the chance most people don’t have every day — to get a perspective of NIEHS headquarters from the shoreline on the other side of the lake. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Others, including the ones who built this dam, kept a low profile. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)