# Role of Epigenetically Active  Environmental Compounds in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

> **NIH NIH R21** · SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE · 2021 · $243,750

## 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 organization:** SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** ALEXEY V TERSKIKH
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $243,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-25 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10271253

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10271253, Role of Epigenetically Active  Environmental Compounds in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (5R21ES030804-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10271253. Licensed CC0.

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