# Children's Exposure to Metals, MicroRNAs and Biomarkers of Renal Health

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $111,566

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Toxic metals including cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) are known renal toxicants in adults;
however, their renal toxicity in developing children is understudied. Prenatal and early childhood are potential
susceptibility windows for renal toxic metals as these life stages are associated with development and
differentiation of renal filtration, secretion, and reabsorptive systems. The aim of this study is to determine
whether exposure to heavy metals early in life contributes to renal toxicity in children and whether miRNAs
mediate metal nephrotoxicity. I have a strong foundation in exposure science, epigenetic epidemiology and
toxicology and gained additional training in renal developmental physiology and biostatistics during the K99
phase of the Pathway to Independence award. The proposed research will address innovative hypotheses
regarding the origins of toxic renal programming in children. I will conduct this research by leveraging an
established longitudinal birth cohort in Mexico City - the Programming Research in Obesity, GRowth
Environment and Social Stress (PROGRESS) study, which has measured levels of renal toxic metals (Cd, Hg,
Pb) longitudinally in blood, hair, and nails as well as blood pressure, and collected urine at each visit. In
addition to childhood blood pressure, the proposed research will examine preclinical indicators of renal
dysfunction in three discrete regions of the kidney: the glomerulus, proximal tubule and distal nephron (i.e.
distal tubule and collecting duct). The following aims will be accomplished: 1) Determine whether prenatal/early
life metal exposure predicts childhood blood pressure or kidney function biomarkers. 2) Apply a novel
biostatistical approach to enable “detection” of metal-associated renal toxicity that is global or site-specific in
discrete kidney regions. 3) Examine the role of urinary miRNAs as biomarkers/mediators of metal-renal health
relationships. Kidney function and health biomarkers that will be measured include urine/serum creatinine,
electrolytes, osmolality, as well as blood urea nitrogen, and urine protein markers of kidney injury. These
findings will advance the field of children's renal health as well as generate new hypotheses about metals and
specific mechanisms that may contribute to the pathophysiology of adverse renal outcomes. The R00 research
activities will results in scientific presentations and publications and will prepare me to successful compete for
R01 funding.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10500854
- **Project number:** 7R00ES027508-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Alison P Sanders
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $111,566
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2021-12-17 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10500854

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10500854, Children's Exposure to Metals, MicroRNAs and Biomarkers of Renal Health (7R00ES027508-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10500854. Licensed CC0.

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