# Developmental Core

> **NIH NIH U2C** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2021 · $605,349

## Abstract

Project Summary Developmental Core
A major challenge to including environmental measures to existing studies is capturing the dynamic
nature of the environment, particularly how to capture it retrospectively, yet objectively. This is particularly
important for HHEAR since it may include many case control genetic studies that would be cross-sectional
if blood or urine were used for exposure assessment. The lack of advanced exposure tools to address
exposure timing limits research on critical windows of susceptibility – life stages when individuals are
highly vulnerable to environmental exposures. Prospective birth cohorts may capture these relationships,
but are expensive both in time and money. The absence of objective retrospective biomarkers that
provide information on both the magnitude and timing of fetal and early childhood exposure to multiple
chemicals is a major barrier in environmental epidemiology and to HHEAR. A primary mission of the
Developmental Core is to develop, validate and standardize precise, unbiased, retrospective biomarkers
of multi-chemical exposures at specific life stages including prenatal life, effectively providing data
equivalent to a prospective longitudinal design. A major focus will be retrospective exposure
reconstruction biomarkers that objectively measure prenatal and infant environment, which are known
to be important for both childhood and adult disease. Our Developmental Core has an established track
record of innovation over the past three years in the CHEAR Program. We developed tooth matrix-based
biomarkers that leverage dentine growth rings to reconstruct the timing and dose of toxic/nutrient
elements and organic chemical exposures in fetal life and infancy. We are also developing biomarkers
that improve on the standard methods to assess dry blood spots, hair and the placenta, all of which can
potentially reconstruct past exposure at different stages of life. It is now recognized that tissue architecture
can provide exposure and biological information on toxicity via chemical spatial distribution. Our Core will
apply 2D tissue bio-imaging that quantifies the spatial distribution of both metals and biomolecules
within tissue sections, using high-resolution laser-based mass spectrometry combined with multiplexed
metal-tagged immunolabelling. We are applying this to cancer studies by mapping solid tumors to include
spatial information on environmental exposures in cancer. This is one prominent example of the Core
aims to contribute to Precision Environmental Medicine. The Developmental Core will integrate with the
Targeted Resource, so that our work can be incorporated as services offered to HHEAR Clients. This will
be accomplished through shared personnel, resources and the monthly Steering Committee meetings.
Our goal is to bring new biomarkers into the HHEAR network as fully developed, high-throughput
platforms. Dr. Manish Arora is the Core Leader, and Deputy Director of the Targeted Lab Resource, roles
...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10173777
- **Project number:** 5U2CES026561-04
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Manish Arora
- **Activity code:** U2C (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $605,349
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-09-30 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10173777

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10173777, Developmental Core (5U2CES026561-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10173777. Licensed CC0.

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