# Targeted Analysis

> **NIH NIH U2C** · WADSWORTH CENTER · 2021 · $1,589,829

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT – TARGETED
The overall objective of the Targeted Analysis Resource (TAR) within the Wadsworth Center’s Human Health
and Exposure Analysis Resource (WC-HHEAR) is to provide access to state-of-the-art, analytical facilities to
HHEAR clients conducting studies into environmental exposures and the effects of environmental contaminants
on human health. The proposed TAR will leverage the Center’s extensive infrastructure, expertise, and
reputation as a world-class biomonitoring laboratory that has been built over several decades in the Department
of Environmental Health Sciences (DEHS). Within DEHS two analytical lab groups conduct targeted analyses
for environmental contaminants: the Trace Elements Lab (TREL) and the Human Organics Biomonitoring Lab
(HOBL). Dr. Patrick Parsons is the Director of DEHS overseeing the TREL, while Dr. Kurunthlachalam Kannan
is Deputy Director of DEHS overseeing the HOBL. Drs. Parsons and Kannan (the MPIs of this proposal) have
more than 65 years of combined experience in analytical chemistry applied to measuring environmental
contaminants in human tissues and fluids. The HOBL analyzes biospecimens for 30 classes of trace organic
contaminants totaling hundreds of analytes including, but not limited to, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons, perfluorinated compounds, brominated flame retardants, pesticides (e.g.,
organophosphate, organochlorine, synthetic pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides), phthalates (including
metabolites, replacements and emerging chemicals), drugs (e.g., opioids), biomarkers of stress (e.g., oxidative
stress markers of DNA, protein and lipids), life style biomarkers (e.g., tobacco smoke) and nutritional biomarkers
(e.g., phytoestrogens, micronutrients). The TREL group analyzes biospecimens for up to 22 trace elements that
including toxic (lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic) and essential (copper, selenium, zinc) elements in whole
blood, urine, and serum/plasma, plus the 16 rare earth elements, which includes the lanthanides series. Both
HOBL and TREL have extensive expertise analyzing non-traditional matrices such as placenta, cord blood, baby
teeth, dried blood spots, hair, nails, amniotic fluid, breast milk, saliva, and other tissues. The TAR will capitalize
on Wadsworth’s international reputation and leadership to promote harmonization of laboratory analyses for
biomonitoring and exposure analysis based on rigorous quality control which is evidenced by 1) organizing
external proficiency testing programs and educational interlaboratory studies (for emerging assays); 2) providing
subject matter expertise through disseminating standard operating protocols; 3) offering hands-on training for
staff from other laboratories; and 4) producing well-characterized quality control and reference materials that are
available to the wider scientific community. The wealth and breadth of experience, knowledge, skills and
reputation that WC-HHEAR has garnered ove...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10222675
- **Project number:** 5U2CES026542-04
- **Recipient organization:** WADSWORTH CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Kurunthachalam Kannan
- **Activity code:** U2C (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,589,829
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-09-30 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10222675

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10222675, Targeted Analysis (5U2CES026542-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10222675. Licensed CC0.

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