# Promoting Diversity in the UNM METALS SRC through Risk-Reduction Research on Tribal Lands

> **NIH NIH P42** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · 2021 · $50,000

## Abstract

Project Summary
The goal of this SRP Research
Supplement
to Promote Diversity in Health-Related
Research is to complement efforts for Phase 1 of the University of New Mexico’s Metals
Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on Tribal Lands in the Southwest (UNM METALS)
Superfund Basic Research Center (SRC) Environmental Project 1 (EP1). The focus of EP1 is
on immobilization of metal mixtures for risk reduction in sites affected by mining legacy in our
partner communities on Navajo Nation and the Pueblo of Laguna. The motivation of this
supplement is to support Taylor Busch, a graduate student of Navajo descent who will synergize
the current research in EP1 (focused on metal immobilization of metal mixtures), to explore new
approaches that use plant-fungi symbiosis for the remediation of toxic metal mixtures. Taylor
Busch will investigate the role of fungi on the accumulation of U and As in plants. We will build
from initial work conducted by Taylor Busch who has collaborated with our Center as an
undergraduate researcher, using the native grass, Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama) and fungi
that have already been isolated from the contaminated areas in our partner community of
Laguna Pueblo. We will conduct culture experiments to evaluate uptake of U and As integrating
aqueous chemistry, microscopy, and spectroscopy tools for elemental composition and metal
speciation in fungi and plants.
 Taylor Busch will be mentored by Dr. José Cerrato, who is the lead investigator for EP1
and has a strong track-record with under-represented students. Eliane El Hayek will serve as a
Co-mentor and will facilitate the integration with biomedical and environmental projects of the
UNM METALS SRC. The collaboration with Jennifer Rudgers who is an expert in fungi ecology
will be an invaluable asset to this supplement given that Taylor Busch has already been working
with her as an undergraduate researcher. The Administrative Core, Translation Core, Training
Core and Community Engagement Core will support the mentoring of Taylor Busch and provide
invaluable opportunities for professional development working with our partner communities.
The proposed activities for this supplement can be feasibly completed by March 31, 2022 which
is the end date of Phase of the UNM METALS SRC. We will look for other funding opportunities
for Taylor Busch to continue working on this project beyond the end of Phase 1 of the UNM
METALS SRC so Taylor Busch can obtain her Master of Science (MS) degree.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10395130
- **Project number:** 3P42ES025589-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Johnnye L Lewis
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $50,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-08-15 → 2022-09-19

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10395130

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10395130, Promoting Diversity in the UNM METALS SRC through Risk-Reduction Research on Tribal Lands (3P42ES025589-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10395130. Licensed CC0.

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