# Environmental Exposure and Cardiometabolic Disease

> **NIH NIH P42** · UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE · 2020 · $10,800

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY (Overall)
This proposal is to establish a Superfund Center at the University of Louisville. This Center will support research
on the cardiometabolic effects of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that are of high relevance to the Superfund
Program. Center investigators will conduct mode-of-action research to unravel critical pathways of toxicity and
to identify toxicological end-points (cardiometabolic changes) of chemicals (VOCs) found at Superfund and
related sites. Using high throughput metabolomic and mass spectrometry approaches, animal experiments and
human population studies, Center investigations will aid in the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers of
both exposure and cardiometabolic injury that would lay the foundation for future remediation strategies. These
studies will employ state-of-the-art tools to develop pollutant atmospheres for animal exposure and to measure
unique and sensitive biological endpoints reflective of cardiometabolic injury. In addition, work supported by the
Center will lead to the development of new methods and devices for quantifying atmospheric levels of VOCs that
will employ advanced technologies and offer precise, but low-cost measurements of hazardous waste sites. The
major objectives of the Center are to conduct state-of-the-art research on the cardiometabolic toxicity of VOCs
and to determine how they affect cardiometabolic disease (CMD) prevalence and severity in exposed
populations. These studies will be complemented by mode-of-action mechanistic studies in animals to identify
the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to VOC toxicity. Center investigators will also identify
specific conditions such as nutritional status and obesity and increase susceptibility to VOC toxicity and test
therapeutic interventions that can attenuate acute and chronic cardiometabolic effects of VOC exposures. The
findings of these studies will contribute to both the discovery and the validation of sensitive and robust biomarkers
that could be used to assess the extent of exposure, metabolism and toxicity. Center investigators will create
new technologies for detecting VOCs at low environmental levels to enable future exposure assessment
activities. Senior Center members will educate and train junior investigators, graduate students and post-doctoral
Fellows in the field of environmental science, and promote relevant community awareness and participation to
enhance mutual bidirectional understanding of exposure risk and the health effects of exposure. The findings
and discoveries of the Center will be transferred to affected communities, end users in public and private sectors,
and other stakeholders. For future use and analysis, all samples of human and animal tissues and all data
collected during Center investigations will be stored in a computer-coded biorepository. Collectively, Center
activities will lead to rigorous evaluation and better understanding of the effects of these hazardous che...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10203585
- **Project number:** 3P42ES023716-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** Sanjay Srivastava
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $10,800
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10203585

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10203585, Environmental Exposure and Cardiometabolic Disease (3P42ES023716-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10203585. Licensed CC0.

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