# Project 2: Investigating the role of PAH exposures associated with superfund site proximity in preterm birth etiology through placental transcriptomics and metagenomics

> **NIH NIH P42** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $268,461

## Abstract

The burden of perinatal morbidity and mortality related to preterm birth (PTB) is astounding. Studies show that
environmental exposures contribute to an increased susceptibility to PTB. Identification of the causative
etiology of PTB is essential to improving global maternal and child health. Our preliminary data reveal that
exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with PTB. We have reported that proximity
to Superfund sites in Harris County is associated with very low birth weight, and our studies reveal higher
levels of PAHs in placentas from PTBs compared to term births specifically in women residing near Superfund
sites. In this proposal we will delve into the molecular underpinnings behind PTB and the specific
environmental exposures of PAHs through use of our established transcriptomic and epigenomic pipelines. We
will leverage our readily available serum and placental samples from a population based and PTB enriched
cohort. Furthermore, geostatistical modeling will be utilized to identify clusters of PTB throughout Harris
County. Our central hypothesis underlying our research is that PAH exposures are associated with an
increased rate of PTB, that transcriptomics and epigenomics will yield readily translatable mechanistic
information on this association, and geostatistical modeling will reveal increased clusters of PTB in proximity to
Superfund sites in Harris County.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9841260
- **Project number:** 1P42ES027725-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Kjersti Marie Aagaard
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $268,461
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9841260

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9841260, Project 2: Investigating the role of PAH exposures associated with superfund site proximity in preterm birth etiology through placental transcriptomics and metagenomics (1P42ES027725-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9841260. Licensed CC0.

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