# Environmental Exposure and Cardiometabolic Disease

> **NIH NIH P42** · UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE · 2024 · $2,135,560

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY (Overall)
This proposal is to continue to grow and expand the University of Louisville Superfund Center established in
2017. Currently, the Center supports research on the cardiometabolic effects of volatile organic chemicals
(VOCs) that are of high relevance to the Superfund Program. Center investigators conduct mode-of-action
research to unravel critical pathways of toxicity and to identify toxicological end-points (cardiometabolic changes)
of chemicals (VOCs) found at Superfund and related sites. Using high throughput mass spectrometry and an
innovative suite of mechanism-based biomarkers, animal experiments and human population studies, Center
investigations have contributed to the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers of both exposure and
cardiometabolic injury that would lay the foundation for future remediation strategies. These studies employ
state-of-the-art tools to develop pollutant atmospheres for animal exposure and to measure unique and sensitive
biological endpoints reflective of cardiometabolic injury. In addition, work supported by the Center is leading to
the development of new methods and devices for quantifying atmospheric levels of VOCs that employ advanced
technologies and offer precise, but low-cost measurements of hazardous waste sites. As before, the major
objectives of the Center are to conduct state-of-the-art research on the cardiometabolic toxicity of VOCs and to
determine how they affect cardiometabolic disease (CMD) prevalence and severity in exposed populations.
These studies will be complemented by mode-of-action mechanistic studies in animals to identify the molecular
and cellular mechanisms that contribute to VOC toxicity. The findings of these studies will continue to contribute
to both the discovery and the validation of sensitive and robust biomarkers that could be used to assess the
extent of exposure, metabolism and toxicity. Center investigators are creating new technologies for detecting
VOCs at low environmental levels to enable future exposure assessment activities. Senior Center members
educate and train junior investigators, graduate students and post-doctoral Fellows in the field of environmental
science, and promote relevant community awareness and participation to enhance mutual bidirectional
understanding of exposure risk and the health effects of exposure. The findings and discoveries of the Center
will be transferred to affected communities, end users in public and private sectors, and other stakeholders. For
future use and analysis, all samples of human and animal tissues and all data collected during Center
investigations will be stored in a computer-coded biorepository. Collectively, expansion and growth of the Center
activities will enhance its contribution and lead to rigorous evaluation and better understanding of the effects of
these hazardous chemicals on obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10914079
- **Project number:** 5P42ES023716-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** Sanjay Srivastava
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $2,135,560
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10914079

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10914079, Environmental Exposure and Cardiometabolic Disease (5P42ES023716-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10914079. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*