Contact Rose Branstrom with any items that should be included in next month's M-LEEaD newsletter.
On July 20, 2023, the M-LEEaD Pan Omics and Data Science (PODS) Core hosted the Summer Omics and Data Science Symposium at the U of M School of Public Health. PODS leaders Maureen Sartor and Jackie Goodrich organized the event, with 2 keynote speakers and 4 shorter presentations by early career researchers.
The keynote speakers Drs. Justin Colacino and Stephen Goutman spoke on “Single cell and spatial omics studies in EHS” and “Targeting the ALS Exposome for Disease Prevention,” respectively. The 4 lighting round talks were presented by Drs. Rachel Morgan, Pini Perera, Kai Wang, and Yue Zhao. These talks focused on harnessing molecular data (i.e. DNA methylation, PIWI-interacting RNA) and computational techniques (gene target prediction) to understand links between environmental exposures and disease.
Image description- Speakers and Organizers of the Summer Omics and Data Science Symposium, from left to right: Drs. Jackie Goodrich, Pini Perera, Rachel Morgan, Stephen Goutman, Justin Colacino, Maureen Sartor, Kai Wang, and Yue Zhao.
Breathing clean air is crucial for our health, but many of us may not realize that our homes can harbor harmful pollutants. Stuart Batterman, a professor of environmental health sciences, suggests testing for specific toxins or checking for CO2 levels and humidity if your home feels stuffy or damp. Read more here.
A study led by University of Michigan finds that a newly created polygenic scoring system can improve the ability to predict an individual’s risk of developing ALS. Senior author Stephen Goutman, M.D., a neurologist and director of the Pranger ALS Clinic at U-M Health says “This may help to distinguish which populations have greater odds to develop the disease and inform future prevention studies and interventions.” “By combining all of the common genetic features previously associated with ALS, we improved ALS case status prediction among study populations in Michigan and in Spain,” said co-author Kelly M. Bakulski, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology at the U-M School of Public Health. Read on ALS News Today, Newswise, Medical Xpress, and Eurekalert.
Researchers at University of Michigan developed a method to produce artificially grown miniature brains - called human brain organoids - free of animal cells that could greatly improve the way neurodegenerative conditions are studied and, eventually, treated. The success of these xenogeneic-free human brain organoids opens the door for reprogramming with cells from patients with neurodegenerative diseases, says co-author Eva Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., director of the ALS Center of Excellence at U-M and James W. Albers Distinguished Professor of Neurology at U-M Medical School. Read more on Tech Explorist, Neuroscience News, News Medical, and Interesting Engineering.
A new study found that Black and Hispanic women reached menopausal age about 1.2 years earlier than white women. The researchers are hopeful that bringing attention to mitigating selection bias can help address these disparities. "Accounting for data biases in future studies will allow us to better understand and address the negative health outcomes of these marginalized populations," said Siobán Harlow, professor emerita of epidemiology at the School of Public Health and senior author of the study. Read more on Scientific American, Seattle Medium, San Diego Voice, and EurekAlert.
It’s not unusual for neurologist Eva Feldman, M.D., to see patients who are experiencing pain or strange sensations in their feet. “They say, ‘My feet hurt, and they hurt worse at night when the sheets are on them.’ ”Another common complaint she hears: “It feels like bugs are biting the bottom of my feet,” says Feldman, a professor of neurology at the University of Michigan. Read more about warning signs of neuropathy at AARP.
Dr. Lisbeth Iglesias-Ríos joins the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice podcast to discuss why we must advocate for better workplace conditions for the people who grow our food. Iglesias-Ríos, researcher at the University of Michigan and a co-investigator of the Michigan Farmworker Project, also talks about being raised by two strong women, her path to becoming a researcher, and ways to support migrant farmworkers. Listen here.
Research from the University of Michigan explains how measuring pollen levels in a city, neighborhood, or from an individual tree—rather than over a large geographic area—means better prediction of allergenic pollen. This in turn can provide the public with information that may help residents avoid asthma attacks, lost days from work and school, and the cost of drugs and treatment. Stuart Batterman, a professor of environmental health sciences in the School of Public Health, is co-author on the research. Read more here.
The Center for Academic Innovation is providing funds and in-kind support and expertise to 13 new projects to help implement educational technology that enhances learning on the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus and throughout global learning communities. Congrats to Miatta Buxton, assistant research scientist in epidemiology at the School of Public Health, on her selection! Read more here.
Five University of Michigan faculty members have been recognized for their outstanding teaching and service with one of U-M’s most prestigious honors: the Distinguished University Professorship. Congratulations to Bhramar Mukherjee, the John D. Kalbfleisch Distinguished University Professor of Biostatistics, the John D. Kalbfleisch Collegiate Professor of Biostatistics, and professor of biostatistics, of epidemiology, and of global public health in the School of Public Health, on being honored! Read more here.
Donele Wilkins, M-LEEaD Stakeholder Advocacy Board Member, will receive the Helen & William Milliken Distinguished Service Award for her inspiring dedication over three decades to protecting Detroit residents. Ms. Wilkins has established and led two important organizations, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice and the Green Door Initiative. These organizations have been vital in driving Detroit towards becoming a cleaner, healthier, and greener city, with a trained green workforce and an engaged civic community. Read more on Michigan Environmental Council.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 • 12:00 PM — 1:30 PM at Lansing, MI Climate, Environment & Health Legislative Forum with Elizabeth A. Mack, PhD (Michigan State University), “Steps Towards Affordable Water: A Policy Agenda”; Devon Payne-Sturges, PhD (University of Maryland), “Cumulative Risks, Impacts, & Solutions: Prescriptions for Improving Community Environmental Health”; Stuart Batterman, PhD (University of Michigan), “Wildfire Preparedness and Response and Public Health”; Carina Gronlund, PhD (University of Michigan),“‘Inside’-er Tips for Adapting to and Mitigating Climate Change by Weatherizing Homes”
Check out the event website here
Thursday, September 28, 2023 • 10:00 AM — 11:00 AM at SPH M-LEEaD Fall 2023 Seminar: “Ovarian Disrupting Effects of Contaminants of Emerging Concern” with Shuo Xiao, PhD (Rutgers University)
LOCATION: School of Public Health I Room 1680 - Community Room
Get the calendar link here
The Environmental Awards Celebration has gained acclaim for honoring some of Michigan's most inspiring and impactful leaders. This year, our 25th, carries on that legacy. Join us to celebrate these special activists on Thursday, August 31, 2023 from 6:30-8:30pm at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.
Date: Thursday, August 31, 2023
Location: The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn
Info and registration here
The 2023 Center for PFAS Research 2nd Annual Symposium will focus on the theme of PFAS: Current Knowledge and Applications for Agricultural Production. The symposium will allow participants to exchange scientific information and discoveries while also discussing PFAS contamination in agricultural systems, transport into crops and livestock, remediation, policy, and emerging issues of PFAS. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about new skills and technologies that may influence the scientific direction, management strategies, and supply chain sectors of PFAS contamination and solutions.
Date: Sunday, October 22, 2023 to Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Location: In-person at Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in Lansing, MI or online Info and registration here
The USA Exposome Symposium will bring together academic, government, and community partners to share research findings, discuss the use of computational analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in analyzing results of large, multi-dimensional data sets, and discuss translational interventions and policies needed to reduce the effects of environmental injustice on child health.
Date: Monday, January 22, 2024, to Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Location: Nashville, TN Info and registration here
The STrengthening Research Opportunities for NIH Grants (STRONG): The STRONG-RLI program will support research capacity needs assessments by eligible Resource-Limited Institutions (RLIs). The program will also support the recipient institutions to use the results of the assessments to develop action plans for how to meet the identified needs.
RLIs are defined as institutions with a mission to serve historically underrepresented populations in biomedical research that award degrees in the health professions (and in STEM fields and social and behavioral sciences) and have received an average of $0 to $25 million per year (total costs) of NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) support for the past three fiscal years.
Applications are due September 18, 2023. Learn more here.
Recent Publications citing M-LEEaD:
Harris SM, Colacino J, Buxton M, Croxton L, Nguyen V, Loch-Caruso R, Bakulski KM. A Data Mining Approach Reveals Chemicals Detected at Higher Levels in Non-Hispanic Black Women Target Preterm Birth Genes and Pathways. Reprod Sci. 2022 Jul;29(7):2001-2012. doi: 10.1007/s43032-022-00870-w. Epub 2022 Feb 2. PMID: 35107823; PMCID: PMC9288534.
Park SK, Wang X, Ding N, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Calafat AM, Herman WH, Mukherjee B, Harlow SD. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and incident diabetes in midlife women: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Diabetologia. 2022 Jul;65(7):1157-1168. doi: 10.1007/s00125-022-05695-5. Epub 2022 Apr 11. PMID: 35399113; PMCID: PMC9177697.
Ding N, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Mukherjee B, Calafat AM, Harlow SD, Park SK. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Incident Hypertension in Multi-Racial/Ethnic Women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Hypertension. 2022 Aug;79(8):1876-1886. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.18809. Epub 2022 Jun 13. PMID: 35695012; PMCID: PMC9308661.
Wang X, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Herman WH, Mukherjee B, Park SK. Metals and risk of incident metabolic syndrome in a prospective cohort of midlife women in the United States. Environ Res. 2022 Jul;210:112976. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112976. Epub 2022 Feb 22. PMID: 35202625; PMCID: PMC9869389.
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.”
