Grantee Research Project Results
2006 Progress Report: Integrating Innovative Biomarkers of Environmentally Induced Disease for Children in Agricultural Communities
EPA Grant Number: R832733Title: Integrating Innovative Biomarkers of Environmentally Induced Disease for Children in Agricultural Communities
Investigators: Faustman, Elaine , Griffith, William C. , Yu, Xiaozhong
Institution: University of Washington
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Project Period: October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2008 (Extended to September 30, 2010)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006
Project Amount: $749,997
RFA: Early Indicators of Environmentally Induced Disease (2004) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Biology/Life Sciences , Children's Health
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to develop an integrative tool for evaluating the importance of knowledge of genomic biomarkers of susceptibility and early response for establishing the exposure-effect-disease relationship in adults and children in agricultural and non agricultural communities.
Progress Summary:
This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science To Achieve Results (STAR) award was processed by the University of Washington in July 2006, so this report reflects 6 months of the initial annual reporting period. This study is coordinated with an ongoing community -based participatory research (CBPR) study in the Yakima Valley (CBPR), a part of the EPA/ National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences funded Children’s Health Risk Research Center (CHC). We will evaluate biomarkers of susceptibility (e.g., genotype for pesticide metabolism and oxidative protective pathways) and biomarkers of early biological effect (e.g., gene expression responses in oxidative response and cell death) and biomarkers of effect. The goals of this project will be realized by having access to biorepository samples collected and partially analyzed by the CHC-CBPR study.
Blood samples from more than 100 adults and a subset of household matched children have been analyzed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The biostatistical staff has done some preliminary statistical analysis of the AChE data to look at familial correlations and gender effects, including a comparison of AChE variability between agricultural and nonagricultural households.
Buccal cells swabs and buffi-coat samples were collected and saved in the biorepository. The analysis plan for the design and timing of the microarray assays has been established.
The initial framework for our integrative tool has been designed for individual and population level assessment. We have identified key contributors to uncertainty and variability within this framework tool. This will allow us to better understand differences in individual responses in both children and adults following environmental exposures in agricultural communities.
Future Activities:
During the second year of the funding period, the laboratory will begin to evaluate the biomarkers of susceptibility and the molecular biomarkers of early biological effect. These results will inform our integrative framework tool. The early response portion of this tool will be designed to allow for incorporation of pathway-specific molecular response data into the exposure-effect-disease paradigm. This will be accomplished using our recently developed gene ontology (GO)-Quant methodology that allows for quantitative analysis of response pathways.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 20 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
organophosphate pesticides, genomic biomarkers, children, neurodegenerative disease,, Health, RFA, Scientific Discipline, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Health Risk Assessment, Children's Health, Biochemistry, Risk Assessment, disease, Human Health Risk Assessment, biological markers, pesticide exposure, agricultural community, susceptibility, children's vulnerablity, assessment of exposure, children's environmental healthProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.