# CACHET: Biomarkers Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2020 · $52,597

## Abstract

1. BIOMARKERS CORE: ABSTRACT 
The Biomarkers Core provides essential analytical measurements in support of all focus groups of the ChicAgo 
Center for Health and EnvironmenT (CACHET). The overarching objectives of this Core are to provide CACHET 
members access to the following: a) routine analytical support enabling determination of exposure to 
environmental toxins as well as biomarkers indicating the physiological consequences of this exposure; b) new 
analytical methods and access to resources not previously available to CACHET members; and c) expertise for 
the design and interpretation of analytical measurements. Core access will be available equally and at 
discounted rates to all CACHET members, regardless of their institutional affiliation. Types of analyses and 
services will include 1) quantitative analysis of toxicants (such as pesticides and endocrine disruptors like 
bisphenol A) in biomedical specimens, and related biomarkers of exposure (including markers of inflammation 
such as the prostaglandins PGE2 and PGD2 and markers of oxidative stress such as 8-oxo-dG and 8-isoprostane 
PGF2α) using ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography combined with high performance tandem mass 
spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in the laboratory of Core Leader Dr. Richard van Breemen at UIC; 2) trace 
quantitative analysis of semi-volatile organic toxins such as PAHs, organochlorine pesticides, polyhalogenated 
carbazoles, and halogenated flame retardants in human and environmental samples using gas 
chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) in the laboratory of Dr. An Li at UIC; 3) quantitative 
analysis of metals (including Al, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hg, and Pb) in environmental and 
biomedical specimens by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the laboratory of Dr. 
C. Jin Qin at UofC; and 4) characterizing effects of environmental toxicants on the human microbiome in the 
laboratory of microbial ecologist Dr. Jack Gilbert at UofC. Some of these core resources, such as GC-MS/MS 
analysis of semi-volatile environmental toxins and effects of environmental toxins on the human microbiome have 
not been accessible previously to researchers at either UIC or UofC. Due to institutional contributions and 
CACHET support, these resources will be readily available to CACHET members at substantial discounts. Each 
laboratory providing services within this core is directed by an expert, and all of these resources will be 
coordinated by Dr. van Breemen, who has over 30 years of experience in the management of core facilities 
including MS-based resources.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9922311
- **Project number:** 5P30ES027792-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Jarrad Timothy Hampton-Marcell
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $52,597
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9922311

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9922311, CACHET: Biomarkers Core (5P30ES027792-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9922311. Licensed CC0.

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