# Effects of residual PAH exposure from firefighters' turnout gear on plasma microRNA expression

> **NIH ALLCDC K01** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2020 · $108,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Dr. Jooyeon Hwang is an Assistant Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of
Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She has extensive training and experience in carcinogenic exposure
assessments for occupational epidemiological studies, knowledge and skills that she hopes to leverage in the
study of human microbiomes and epigenetic biomarkers. As epigenetic assessment is a new methodology in
her field, she is applying for the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) to achieve three
training goals: 1) to become an independent researcher in an emerging area of study – exposure-associated
epigenetic assessment, 2) to integrate miRNA characteristics into the prediction of carcinogenic issues, and 3)
to develop intervention and prevention strategies for firefighters. To achieve these goals, Dr. Hwang will
receive mentoring from a multidisciplinary team, consult with an advisory committee, complete coursework and
training programs, and attend national meetings and workshops. Her proposed research addresses 1) the
Public Safety Sector and the Cancer, Reproductive, Cardiovascular and Other Chronic Disease Prevention
Cross-Sector of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) and 2) 1.9C: Exposure to carcinogens -
Exposures from wearing contaminated gear, Translational Research under Goal 1: Reduce Occupational
Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Adverse Reproductive Outcomes, and Other Chronic Disease of the
Strategic Plan for 2019-2023.
The proposed study, in which Dr. Hwang will investigate factors and mechanisms potentially contributing to
firefighters' elevated risk of skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma, has two specific aims: 1) to
assess associations between residual levels of PAH on firefighters' turnout gear and skin with exposure
variables derived from turnout gear practices and 2) to assess the concentration of PAH on skin and PAH-
associated microRNA (miRNA) expression in blood of the firefighters. The results of the proposed study will be
used to enhance the current understanding of carcinogenic exposure to PAH using miRNA expression
profiling, which describes cancer pathways, development, and progression. The contributions of this study will
be twofold. First, a novel exposure assessment strategy will be developed that synthesizes the epigenetic
alteration of genes in biomarkers of firefighters. Second, this occupation-based study for understanding the
mechanisms of the PAH-associated miRNA before and after exposure during fire activities will be disseminated
to regional and statewide firefighters as well as the scientific community. Dr. Hwang will compile the results
from this study and submit an R01 focusing on an integrated analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA)-miRNA in
the firefighter cohort. The second analysis will simultaneously enable a follow-up with the participants for a
longitudinal study.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9871872
- **Project number:** 1K01OH011891-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jooyeon Hwang
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $108,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9871872

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9871872, Effects of residual PAH exposure from firefighters' turnout gear on plasma microRNA expression (1K01OH011891-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9871872. Licensed CC0.

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