Extramural Research
The Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
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- Publications (2003-2010)
Columbia University
Principal Investigator: Frederica Perera
| Overview | Exposures and Outcomes | Research Projects | Key Findings | Community Partners | Publications (2003-2010) |
The research theme of the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) is the role of endocrine disruptors, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in air pollution and bisphenol A (BPA), in the etiology of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Consistent with the goals of NIEHS and EPA, we will conduct three closely linked research projects focused on elucidating the mechanisms by which prenatal and postnatal exposure to PAH and BPA may contribute to these disorders as expressed in early adolescent and peripubertal years.
Principal Exposures of Interest: Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) BPA, PAHs
Principal Outcomes of Interest: Obesity, Neurodevelopment, Epigenetics, Gene-Environment Interaction
Project 1: "The Role of Endocrine Disruptors in Childhood Obesity", is designed to assess whether exposures to BPA and PAH during pregnancy and early-childhood are associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome among children during early adolescence.
Project 2: "The Role of Endocrine Disruptors in Neurodevelopmental Disorders", will assess whether prenatal exposure to the same endocrine disruptors, PAH and BPA, is associated with adverse neurobehavioral effects among peri-pubertal children. Both Project 1 and 2 will evaluate the role of exposure-related changes in epigenetic/gene expression in mediating these health effects.
Project 3: "The Mechanisms of Endocrine Disruptors in Laboratory Mice", will determine the mechanisms by which prenatal RAH (inhaled) and BRA (oral) exposure affect child obesity and neurobehavieral development by elucidating the associated molecular changes in DNA methylation and gene expression.
(The research projects will be supported by three cores: Core 1, CCCEH Administration (Admin); Core 2, Data Management, and Statistics (DMS); and Core 3, Community Outreach and Translation (COTC)).
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, New York City
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