# Epigenetic Signatures of Developmental Reprogramming in Target and Surrogate Tissues

> **NIH NIH U01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $944,000

## Abstract

Project Summary
Environmental exposures during critical periods of development can permanently reprogram normal
physiological responses to increase susceptibility to disease later in life, a process termed developmental
reprogramming. The PI and Co-PI of this U01 application are among the leaders identifying epigenetic targets
for developmental reprogramming. However, studies in the field have focused on the target tissues for
reprogramming events, and virtually nothing is known about whether similar and/or correlative epigenetic
changes occur in surrogate tissues. This presents a Central Challenge for the field to move from experimental
studies on target tissues and exposure-associated pathologies in murine models, to making connections
between exposure-induced epigenetic changes in surrogate tissues and health outcomes in human populations.
To address this Central Challenge, we have assembled an outstanding team of investigators, comprised of
leaders in fields critical for success of the TaRGET II Consortium (T2C): Developmental reprogramming (Walker
and Bartolomei), Epigenetics and Bioinformatics (Huang, Sun and Wang) and mouse models of genetic diversity
(Threadgill). In Aim 1, we will generate reference epigenomic maps to identify epigenetic alterations induced
in target and surrogate tissues by developmental reprogramming in response to specific environmental
exposures, focusing on histone modifications and DNA methylation. Since surrogate tissue biomarkers may be
accessed and/or interrogated at different times during an individual’s lifetime, in Aim 2, we will track specific
epigenetic alterations induced in target and surrogate tissues across the life course. In Aim 3 we will test the
hypothesis that genetic heterogeneity modulates reprogramming events and/or the appearance and persistence
of epigenetic alterations in target and surrogate tissues using genetically diverse mice from the Collaborative
Cross. Together, these studies will identify those epigenetic marks that are the most robust against genetic
background and most likely to be stable biomarkers of exposure and/or phenotypic consequence across the life
course and genetically diverse populations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9940343
- **Project number:** 3U01ES026719-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** MARISA S. BARTOLOMEI
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $944,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-06-01 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9940343

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9940343, Epigenetic Signatures of Developmental Reprogramming in Target and Surrogate Tissues (3U01ES026719-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9940343. Licensed CC0.

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