R01AI167850

Impact of Early-Life Exposure to Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCS) on Neonatal and Early Childhood Immune Function - Project Summary

The immune system plays a critical role in maintaining a child's health, and immune deficits may have serious consequences ranging from increased susceptibility to infections to allergic and autoimmune conditions. Although many factors contribute to overall immune health, emerging data suggest that early life environmental exposures interfere with immune development and function.

Identifying modifiable environmental factors that affect children's immunity is our overarching goal, as it is critical to reducing infant morbidity and mortality and has long-term implications for improving health. Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCS), including organophosphate esters, phthalates, pesticides, and flame retardants, are used in consumer and personal care products, electronics, furniture, and building materials.

As a result of their extensive use and environmental persistence, SVOCS are detected with high frequency in indoor environments, and human exposure to mixtures of SVOCS is widespread. Our proposed research assesses exposure to SVOC mixtures throughout pregnancy and in infancy. We will investigate individual characteristics associated with higher levels of exposure and evaluate the potential for adverse health outcomes among exposed women and their children.

Animal studies provide compelling evidence that exposure to individual SVOCS impacts immune function; however, the extent to which these studies extend to human populations is unclear, particularly because they largely consider exposure to single chemicals, which does not reflect real-world exposures (i.e., those occurring in mixtures).

Our primary objective is to investigate the impacts of early life exposure to SVOC mixtures on children's immune function, and in doing so, to fill a critical gap in the understanding of the impacts of SVOCS. This study will be the first to evaluate the role of SVOC in altering the protection of the neonate by evaluating the two most critical aspects of early life immune function: 1) passive transfer of immunity and 2) the capacity to respond to a novel pathogen-associated antigen.

We will capitalize on the infrastructure of HOPE 1000, an ongoing cohort study with longitudinal collection of SVOC exposure monitors during each trimester of pregnancy and in early childhood, and the biospecimen needed to evaluate immune function and pathogen immunity.

Identifying specific SVOCS or mixtures of SVOCS that affect immunity may provide new opportunities for interventions at the individual and policy levels. Such data are critically needed as the use of some SVOCS is predicted to increase in the coming years.

Duke University

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS; TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT; TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT; AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS; TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS; TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT; AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

Durham, North Carolina 277054640 United States

Single Zip Code

Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-21-038)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 407% from $716,067 to $3,628,214.