R01ES032149
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Building Capacity to Study Mixed Metal-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rural Bangladeshi Children - A1
Project Summary
The economic and public health burden of neurological diseases is remarkably high in Bangladesh, with 5,344 cases per 100,000 people. Yet, the etiology of neurological disorders with respect to environmental pollutants, particularly toxic metals such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and cadmium (Cd), is poorly understood. These metals co-exist at moderate to high levels, posing additional risk to children. Recent Bangladesh studies, including our own, have shown neurobehavioral (NB) effects associated with single metal exposure in children living in rural areas. These detrimental effects, often subtle, potentially have long-term impact on the educational, social, and economic development of the population. This is, in part, due to the limited research capacity of local Bangladeshi researchers to properly evaluate the impact of mixed metal-induced impairment on brain function.
To address this fundamental gap in critical research capacity, we plan to improve the research skills of Bangladeshi scientists by providing them the necessary training to appropriately investigate children's brain vulnerability induced by metal co-exposure. The proposed study has assembled a group of U.S. investigators from Sam Houston State University, Columbia University, the University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Iowa. The U.S. scientists will collaborate with the Bangladeshi researchers and faculty from the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), the largest medical university in Bangladesh, and North South University (NSU).
Our goal is to improve the research capacity of scientists and clinicians by:
(I) Organizing in-country and virtual yearly workshops/training and symposia on neuro-epidemiological research methodology and manuscript preparation;
(II) Providing within the U.S. (and virtually) training on various neurobehavioral (NB) evaluation tools and data analysis; and
(III) Involving the local researchers in two proposed epidemiological studies to be conducted in Bangladesh.
In the first study, 600 adolescents from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) cohort in Araihazar will be evaluated for NB performance. Concurrently, adolescent blood samples will be analyzed for metals and thyroid hormone (TH) since metals are known to disrupt TH prenatally, leading to poor NB performance in childhood. Free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAB), and thyroglobulin antibody (TGAB) will be analyzed. The Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS) battery will be used for NB assessment.
The second study will recruit 200 mother-child pairs from the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) area in Matlab to assess if maternal metal mixture exposure is associated with TH disruption in early pregnancy, and in turn, if prenatal disruption of TH interferes with NB performance in young children. Together, these two studies will test if metal-induced neurotoxicity in early life, in part, mediate the relationships between metal co-exposure and NB.
Project Summary
The economic and public health burden of neurological diseases is remarkably high in Bangladesh, with 5,344 cases per 100,000 people. Yet, the etiology of neurological disorders with respect to environmental pollutants, particularly toxic metals such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and cadmium (Cd), is poorly understood. These metals co-exist at moderate to high levels, posing additional risk to children. Recent Bangladesh studies, including our own, have shown neurobehavioral (NB) effects associated with single metal exposure in children living in rural areas. These detrimental effects, often subtle, potentially have long-term impact on the educational, social, and economic development of the population. This is, in part, due to the limited research capacity of local Bangladeshi researchers to properly evaluate the impact of mixed metal-induced impairment on brain function.
To address this fundamental gap in critical research capacity, we plan to improve the research skills of Bangladeshi scientists by providing them the necessary training to appropriately investigate children's brain vulnerability induced by metal co-exposure. The proposed study has assembled a group of U.S. investigators from Sam Houston State University, Columbia University, the University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Iowa. The U.S. scientists will collaborate with the Bangladeshi researchers and faculty from the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), the largest medical university in Bangladesh, and North South University (NSU).
Our goal is to improve the research capacity of scientists and clinicians by:
(I) Organizing in-country and virtual yearly workshops/training and symposia on neuro-epidemiological research methodology and manuscript preparation;
(II) Providing within the U.S. (and virtually) training on various neurobehavioral (NB) evaluation tools and data analysis; and
(III) Involving the local researchers in two proposed epidemiological studies to be conducted in Bangladesh.
In the first study, 600 adolescents from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) cohort in Araihazar will be evaluated for NB performance. Concurrently, adolescent blood samples will be analyzed for metals and thyroid hormone (TH) since metals are known to disrupt TH prenatally, leading to poor NB performance in childhood. Free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAB), and thyroglobulin antibody (TGAB) will be analyzed. The Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS) battery will be used for NB assessment.
The second study will recruit 200 mother-child pairs from the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) area in Matlab to assess if maternal metal mixture exposure is associated with TH disruption in early pregnancy, and in turn, if prenatal disruption of TH interferes with NB performance in young children. Together, these two studies will test if metal-induced neurotoxicity in early life, in part, mediate the relationships between metal co-exposure and NB.
Awardee
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Huntsville,
Texas
773412448
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 285% from $565,138 to $2,178,528.
SAM Houston State University was awarded
Studying Mixed Metal-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rural Bangladeshi Children
Project Grant R01ES032149
worth $2,178,528
from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in September 2021 with work to be completed primarily in Huntsville Texas United States.
The grant
has a duration of 4 years 9 months and
was awarded through assistance program 93.113 Environmental Health.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R01 Clinical Trials Optional).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 6/20/24
Period of Performance
9/14/21
Start Date
6/30/26
End Date
Funding Split
$2.2M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$2.2M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Subgrant Awards
Disclosed subgrants for R01ES032149
Transaction History
Modifications to R01ES032149
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
R01ES032149
SAI Number
R01ES032149-2669236286
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
75NV00 NIH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
Funding Office
75NV00 NIH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
Awardee UEI
DJPXLZAE9931
Awardee CAGE
025T9
Performance District
TX-17
Senators
John Cornyn
Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz
Budget Funding
Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services (075-0862) | Health research and training | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $1,055,181 | 98% |
Modified: 6/20/24