# The MIT Superfund Research Program: A Systems Approach for the Protection of Human Health from Hazardous Chemicals

> **NIH NIH P42** · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2024 · $2,238,751

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – OVERALL
N-Nitrosamines are a family of hazardous chemicals that are among the most mutagenic chemicals known, and
many are potently carcinogenic in animal models. People living in Wilmington, MA, are concerned about N-
nitrosamines because there are over 20 million gallons of N-nitrosamine-contaminated waste at the nearby Olin
Chemical Superfund Site, contaminating the environment and rendering their well water undrinkable. The
Passamaquoddy Tribe is also concerned about N-nitrosamines, because their water contains high levels of
organic material and the use of chloramine is known to create N-nitrosodimethylamine. Specific Aim 1 is to
make and measure. Innovative, light-based chemical sensors that exploit smartphones will be created and used
for Citizen Science to gain information that will help to inform cleanup by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). Innovative, high-throughput `animate sensors,' based on cell-microarray technology, will be created and
used to test the consequences of N-nitrosamines on health-related impacts known to be associated with cancer
risk. To understand disease more deeply, a genetically engineered “canary in the coal mine” mouse model will
be used to reveal the potential for long-term low-dose exposure to cause mutations and deleterious biological
responses. Specific Aim 2 is to protect human health via prediction and prevention of disease. By
integrating multi-omics data (fueled by the Data Management and Analysis Core [DMAC]), mechanistic
knowledge will propel the development of predictive biomarkers that can be used to develop methods to prevent
disease. The potential for probiotics to suppress N-nitrosamine-induced cancer will be studied. In addition, novel
devices will be created to destroy N-nitrosamines via electrochemical and biochemical destruction. Importantly,
risk evaluation depends on knowledge from both engineers and biologists. The DMAC will thus form a critical
integrating role by merging transdisciplinary data streams to evaluate risk for specific water samples. Specific
Aim 3 is to maximize societal impact via integration within the MIT SRP and with partners outside of MIT.
Partnering with the community will allow collection of environmental data that will inform risk. Via bidirectional
communication, community members will also benefit from novel, hands-on teaching kits, while MIT SRP
members will benefit from learning about community perspectives and concerns. Dissemination of MIT SRP
knowledge and technologies will also be achieved via continued strengthening of relationships between the MIT
SRP and local, state, Tribal and governmental agents, including community members who are most impacted
by N-nitrosamine contamination. All of this work will be made possible by careful coordination and formalization
of translation opportunities (made possible by the Administrative Core), and by continuous improvement of
training opportunities that not only fuel the research (m...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10868663
- **Project number:** 5P42ES027707-08
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Bevin P. Engelward
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $2,238,751
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10868663

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10868663, The MIT Superfund Research Program: A Systems Approach for the Protection of Human Health from Hazardous Chemicals (5P42ES027707-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10868663. Licensed CC0.

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