Contact Rose Branstrom with any items that should be included in next month's M-LEEaD newsletter.
On May 9, 2023, M-LEEaD hosted our 2023 EHS Early Investigator Career Development Workshop for 30 virtual and in-person Early Stage Investigators, including attendees from other EHSCCs at Wayne State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Washington, and Oregon State University.
This lively event included a presentation on “Building and Maintaining Collaborative Networks” from Drs. Justin Colacino and Kelly Bakulski (both faculty at the University of Michigan). The Director of Graduate Student and Program Consultation Services from the U of M Rackham Graduate School, Mallory Martin-Ferguson, presented an interactive session on “Difficult Conversations.” In this session attendees worked on conflict styles self-assessment and learned crucial conversation tools, particularly through some example situations.
To close out the workshop, our speakers were joined by Drs. Jackie Goodrich (University of Michigan) and Graham Parker (Wayne State University) for a panel discussion moderated by M-LEEaD’s 2022-23 Center Scientists, Drs. Bek Petroff and Soundara Viveka Thangaraj. Topics in this panel ranged from building trust to discussing specific challenges ESI may encounter, and strategies to overcome these challenges.
The files from the workshop, including copies of the presentations and handouts, can be found at this link.
Xihong Lin, professor of biostatistics and coordinating director of the Program in Quantitative Genomics at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). NAS members are elected in recognition of their “distinguished and continuing achievements in original research” and is “one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive." Read more here.
A group from the University of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Emory University, and community organizations are working together on a project to document descriptions of the 1973 PBB contamination. Amy Schulz, professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at Michigan Public Health and one of the collaborators on the project, says: "The oral histories conducted with Michigan residents nearly 50 years after the largest contamination of farm animals and the food system in Michigan highlight both the dearth of formal scientific knowledge about human health impacts at the time, and the essential role of community science in building knowledge about the source of the exposure and its human impacts." Read more on SPH News and Population Healthy.
Disinfectants have had a moment since the COVID-19 pandemic began — and scientists are warning that this widespread use is spurring health problems, antimicrobial resistance and harming the environment. "Disinfectant wipes containing QACs are often used on children's school desks, hospital exam tables, and in homes where they remain on these surfaces and in the air," said Courtney Carignan, a co-author and assistant professor at Michigan State University. "Our review of the science suggests disinfecting with these chemicals in many cases is unhelpful or even harmful. " Read more on Environmental Health News, Science X, Healthnews, and the Guardian.
When the Biden administration announced the historic investments of the Justice40 initiative, it was a reminder that Black and Brown communities have the power to reshape the future for the better. It is time for us to step up once again and ensure that those investments get to the communities they are for. The Justice40 Initiative promises that at least 40% of federal climate investments will go directly to communities, like many in Detroit, experiencing the worst impacts of poverty and pollution. Read this piece by Donele Wilkins, CEO of the Green Door Initiative, on Planet Detroit.
Citizens and government officials gathered in Kalamazoo on May 18 to discuss health findings released by the state that confirmed levels of pollution seen regularly in nearby neighborhoods represent a health hazard. “The community is right to be frustrated and angry about this pollution,” Justin Colacino, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences and co-leader of the M-LEEaD Career Development Program, said. “The goal needs to be the removal of these chemicals from the air. Read more here.
Thursday, July 20, 2023 • 9:30 AM — 1:00 PM at SPH
M-LEEaD's 2023 Summer Omics and Data Science Symposium
Registration required here
For more than 58 years, the Summer Session in Epidemiology at the University of Michigan has been one of the nation's most highly regarded summer epidemiology programs. The program can give you a career boost in just one to three intensive weeks. After completing this activity, participants will be able to understand and utilize the central principles of research in clinical populations, including study design, analysis of Biostatistics, and causal inference. The 2023 session will run from July 10-28.
Date: Monday, July 10, 2023, to Friday, July 28, 2023
Location: In-person at the University of Michigan School of Public Health or online
Info and registration here
Columbia’s SHARP Training Program offers short, intensive boot camps led by field experts to teach in-demand skills on the hottest topics in research and education. Scholarships are available and individuals of all career stages, from any organization are welcome to attend. In 2023, SHARP trainings will be offered in-person, livestream virtual, or hybrid (in-person and livestream virtual). See the list of available topics above.
Date: Varies from May-August 2023 depending on program
Location: In-person at Columbia University Irving Medical Center or online Info and registration here
The 2023 TED Countdown Summit will be held in Detroit from July 11-14. This gathering will bring together a group of global innovators, business executives, scientists, policymakers, next generation leaders, artists, activists and more who are determined to create a better future. M-LEEaD SAB member Laprisha Berry Daniels is one of the speakers. As executive director for Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (DWEJ), Laprisha Berry Daniels is helping to dismantle the status quo that forces the citizens of Detroit to bear the undue burden of environmental hazards.
Date: Sunday, July 11, 2023, to Wednesday, July 14, 2023
Location: Detroit, MI Info and registration here
This program helps participants develop data science skills that can be applied to environmental science research, broadly defined as encompassing environmental, climate, earth sciences and ecology. It also helps participants develop strategies for integrating data science into their grant applications, work effectively with data scientists, and build new collaborations. This academy workshop is open to all U-M and external environmental scientists, but the content is geared towards junior faculty members and those from the public and private sector who are interested in learning about incorporating data science into their research.
Dates: Monday, July 31, 2023 to Friday, August 4, 2023
Location: Weiser Hall Info and registration here
M-LEEaD’s Community Engagement core is excited to announce our “Partnership Development Program.” The Partnership Development Program (PDP) is a program of the Community Engagement Core of the M-LEEaD Center. The PDP provides support for new partnerships between community members and researchers. We can also support existing partnerships taking on new or expanded collaborative research efforts. Applications must be submitted on behalf of at least two partners: an academic partner and either a community group, community-based organization or government agency in Detroit, Southeast Michigan or other Michigan communities experiencing environmental health issues. There may be additional partners on the team. The lead academic researcher must be based at University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor, Dearborn, or Flint campus. We will prioritize work in Southeast Michigan communities. If you are in other parts of Michigan or nearby that are impacted by emerging environmental issues you are also welcome to apply.
Funding up to $5,000 per application is available.
The NIEHS is pleased to announce our participation in PAR-23-122, Research with Activities Related to Diversity (ReWARD) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional). The ReWARD Program's overarching goal is to enhance the breadth and geographical location of research and research-related activities supported by NIH. The ReWARD program provides support for the health-related research of scientists who are making a significant contribution to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and who have no current NIH research project grant funding. The grant will support scientific research in areas related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) and ongoing DEIA activities focused on enhancing diversity in the biomedical research enterprise within the United States and territories.
The National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA) is looking to fund 2-3 pilot projects that focus on developing new neighborhood measures. The results from these projects will be shared on NaNDA’s data repository through ICPSR. Key components for projects include:
Focus on data that span the United States and explore the physical, social, or built environment
Information about the existing data researchers will use in the creation of new measures at the spatial scale
Indication of spatial scale
The competition is open to all faculty with appointments in the research professor, professor, scientist, or clinical tracks as well as to post-doctoral fellows. Individuals from underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply. Proposals are due June 30, 2023. Learn more here.
This RFA is the Great Lakes National Program Office’s (GLNPO’s) major competitive grant funding opportunity for FY-23 to help fulfill EPA’s commitment to Environmental Justice (EJ) by establishing Great Lakes Community Environmental Justice Grant Programs to be used for issuing and overseeing subawards for environmental restoration projects in historically underserved Great Lakes communities. This RFA expects to provide funding available for two types of applications: applications that aim to provide funding for projects in a particular region of the Great Lakes Basin, and applications that aim to provide funding for projects across the entire Great Lakes Basin.
Applications are due August 11, 2023. Learn more here.
Recent Publications citing M-LEEaD:
Ding N, Zheutlin E, Harlow SD, Randolph JF Jr, Mukherjee B, Park SK. Associations Between Repeated Measures of Urinary Phthalate Metabolites With Hormones and Timing of Natural Menopause. J Endocr Soc. 2023 Feb 3;7(4):bvad024. doi: 10.1210/jendso/bvad024. PMID: 36846211; PMCID: PMC9945847.
Baccarelli A, Dolinoy DC, Walker CL. A precision environmental health approach to prevention of human disease. Nat Commun. 2023 Apr 28;14(1):2449. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37626-2. PMID: 37117186; PMCID: PMC10147599.
Zamora AN, Peterson KE, Goodrich JM, Téllez-Rojo MM, Song PXK, Meeker JD, Dolinoy DC, A Torres-Olascoaga L, Cantoral A, Jansen EC. Associations between exposure to phthalates, phenols, and parabens with objective and subjective measures of sleep health among Mexican women in midlife: a cross-sectional and retrospective analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 May;30(24):65544-65557. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-26833-5. Epub 2023 Apr 22. PMID: 37086320.
Campbell KA, Colacino JA, Puttabyatappa M, Dou JF, Elkin ER, Hammoud SS, Domino SE, Dolinoy DC, Goodrich JM, Loch-Caruso R, Padmanabhan V, Bakulski KM. Placental cell type deconvolution reveals that cell proportions drive preeclampsia gene expression differences. Commun Biol. 2023 Mar 13;6(1):264. doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-04623-6. PMID: 36914823; PMCID: PMC10011423.
Wilkins D, Schulz AJ. Antiracist Research and Practice for Environmental Health: Implications for Community Engagement. Environ Health Perspect. 2023 May;131(5):55002. doi: 10.1289/EHP11384. Epub 2023 May 24. PMID: 37224068; PMCID: PMC10208422.
Nwanaji-Enwerem JC, Cardenas A, Goodrich JM, Furlong MA, Jung AM, Collender PA, Caban-Martinez AJ, Grant C, Beitel SC, Littau S, Urwin DJ, Gabriel JJ, Hughes J, Gulotta J, Wallentine D, Burgess JL. Occupational Years of Service and Leukocyte Epigenetic Aging: Relationships in United States Firefighters. J Occup Environ Med. 2023 May 1;65(5):e312-e318. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002817. Epub 2023 Feb 15. PMID: 36787539; PMCID: PMC10171280.
Click here for a PDF with useful information about NIH Public Access Policy regarding citing the center grant.
Per NIH grants policy, all publications, press releases, and other documents relevant to research funded by the center must include a specific acknowledgement of support. For the EHS Core Center, this statement may read:
“Support for this research was provided by grant P30ES017885 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.”
