Role of Epigenetically Active Environmental Compounds in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R21 · $243,750 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), are increasingly recognized as originating from dysregulation of early brain development, which represents a window of vulnerability to environmental compounds. Environmental compounds may alter neurodevelopment via epigenetic mechanisms, which may not induce massive cell death, but change the brain function through their epigenetic effect on stem cell fate and lineage development. However, tools to systematically examine the epigenetic impact of environment on neurodevelopment are lacking. Here we employ Microscopic Imaging of Epigenetic Landscape (MIEL) to screen ToxCast Phase III chemical library (4700 compounds) and to characterize hits that alter epigenetic landscape of human neural precursors without inducing cytotoxicity. Recognizing environmental insults and understanding their mechanism of action will enable the development of regulations and guidelines aimed at avoiding such insults and the development of antidotes and protective agents when exposure is unavoidable.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10271253
Project number
5R21ES030804-02
Recipient
SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
Principal Investigator
ALEXEY V TERSKIKH
Activity code
R21
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2021
Award amount
$243,750
Award type
5
Project period
2020-09-25 → 2022-08-31