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May 2020: News and Updates
A monthly newsletter from the Center of Human Health and the Environment
Note from the Director
Good News, on May 11 th  we finally received our P30 Notice of Award from NIH! I am so happy to share the good news that CHHE will be funded by NIEHS for another five years!!  
I can’t wait to have a mini-retreat so we can share information about all the new benefits for members. For example, the Systems Technologies Core (STC) Voucher Program is new and CHHE will pay 50% of the costs for EHS-related projects in METRIC (proteomics, metabolomics, metallomics) and GSL! As part of the IHSFC, we have a new Environmental Data Science Group (EDSG) that can help with -omic and big data analyses, visualization and methods development. 



We also have a Scored Grant Program designed to provide funds so you can collect data to get your scored R01 funded. We will continue the Seed Fund Program and the Pilot Project Program. 
We are updating our CHHE website and will have live links to the STC Voucher Program and IHSFC. CHHE has many new programs/member benefits. I am so eager to get back to the lab and research. Thanks to all that make CHHE a great Center.

Wishing you the best of health,
Rob
Congratulations 2020 Spring Pilot Project Awardees!
Title: Investigating PFAS occurrence in private wells in North Carolina uniquely impacted by land-applied biosolids using a novel non-targeted analytical workflow
PI: Erin Baker , Dept. of Chemistry, NC State
Co-I’s: Jane Hoppin, Dept. of Biological Sciences, NC State, Detlef Knappe , Dept. of Civil,Construction, and Environmental Engineering, NC State, Nadine Kotlarz , Dept. of Biological Sciences, NC State and Catherine LePrevost, Dept. of Applied Ecology, NC State

Title: Uncovering PFOA-induced metabolic changes and their association with B-cell metabolic function
PI: Jamie DeWitt , Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University
Co-I: Tracey Woodlief, Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University

Title: Investigating immune system impacts of PFAS in a uniquely exposed population in North Carolina
PI: Jane Hoppin , Dept.of Biological Sciences, NC State
Co-I’s: Nadine Kotlarz , Dept.of Biological Sciences, NC State, Dereje Jima , Center for Human Health and the Environment, NC State and Jamie DeWitt , Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University

Title: High-speed atomic force microscopy and DREEM imaging of DNA damage repair on chromatin
PI: Parminder Kaur, Dept. of Physics, NC State
Co-I: Hong Wang, Dept. of Physics, NC State

Title: Investigations on the role of indoor environmental stressor house dust mite in atopic dermatitis
PI: Santosh Mishra, Dept. of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, NC State
Co-I: Thierry Olivry, Dept. of Clinical Sciences, NC State

Title: A web platform for mapping global, publication based, spatial and temporal distributions of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
PI: Helena Mitasova, Dept. of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, NC State
Co-I: Jane Hoppin , Dept. of Biological Sciences, NC State

Title: Who are the toxic cyanobacteria potentially impacting humans in the Chowan River?
PI: Ryan Paerl, Dept. of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, NC State
Co-I’s: Joel Sanchez, Dept. of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, NC State and Haley Plaas, UNC-Chapel Hill

Title: A low-cost mobile air-pollution sensor with geospatial mapping: A tool for community-engaged, environmental health disparity research
PI: Yoo Min Park, Dept. of Geography, Planning, and Environment, East Carolina University
Co-I: Sinan Sousan, Dept. of Public Health, East Carolina University

Title: Continuous Monitoring of Personal Health – Environment Interaction by a Wearable, Skin-Breathing Chemiresistive Sensor Array
PI: Qingshan Wei , Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State
Co-I: Yong Zhu, Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NC State
Kudos
Congratulations Mike Cowley and Michael Bereman on their promotion to Associate Professor with tenure!

Suzanne Lea is leading the ECU effort on the statewide corona virus partnership. Read more here .

Congratulations to Theresa Guillette , Nadine Kotlarz, Detlef Knappe and Scott Belche r for being included in the NIEHS Environmental Factor's Paper of the Month. Read article here .

We want your good news! Please send it to Jackie Broughton or Jane Hoppin.
Community Engagement
The CEC has actively been working to support local science teachers, including those who serve on our Stakeholder Advisory Board or have participated in our  summer professional development program . We have been pulling together resources to support their online teaching (activites, videos, models, etc.), as well as facilitating scientists' participation in teachers' online class sessions. If you have materials that teachers may find useful, or want to find other ways to help, please reach out to Katy
Interest Groups News
 Environmental Epigenetics and Genetics Interest Group
Leaders:   David Aylor   and  Mike Cowley
This group will build a community of faculty, staff and students interested in the mechanisms and consequences of interactions between the environment and the epigenome. We will discuss current trends, exchange ideas, share technical knowledge, and foster collaborations with the goal of addressing outstanding questions in the field.

Behavior and Neuroscience Interest Group
Leader:   Emilie Rissman
This group will focus on research examining the influences of the environment on issues in Neuroscience. Examples of the environment include sensory, diet, behaviors, neurotoxicants, etc. Goals include increasing research collaborations, grant submissions, enhancing trainee presentation skills and our presence at the Society for Neuroscience meeting.


Pulmonary Interest Group
LeaderVijay Sivaraman
This group will work to establish collaborations between basic and translational scientists and clinicians that are interested in understanding mechanisms behind environmental exposures and lung diseases. We will hold meetings at both NCSU and ECU to facilitate exchange of ideas and expertise that will result in interdisciplinary groups that can apply for external funding opportunities.

Emerging Contaminants Interest Group
Leader: Jane Hoppin
Are you studying PFAS, BMAA, green space, nanoparticles, other emerging topics of interest? If so, think about joining the Emerging Contaminants Research Interest Group. 
Career Development
All investigators but particularly Early Stage Investigators are encouraged to work with the  Career Development Core  in development of their grants. Talk to  Nanette Nascone-Yoder   to set up a chalk talk to help organize ideas for your next proposal.
Reminders 
Remember to cite our  CHHE grant   P30ES025128 in publications if CHHE has provided you services, facility core use, seed/pilot project funds etc. NIH tracks this as an important CHHE metric.
 
CHHE Resources and Facilities Page for NIH Grants  is available on the CHHE   website .
PINS:  Remember when submitting your grants, be sure to select "Center for Human Health and the Environment" as a center in PINS.

CHHE Cited Publications 

Click  here   to check them out!