Cycle 9-December 2022 OEFC Research Voucher Awards

Large OEFC Research Voucher Award(s)(up to 25% total costs capped at a $10,000 maximum): Large research voucher applications will be provided to subsidize already funded EHS research (for example NIEHS).

Principal Investigator:Matthew Cave, M.D.
Collaborator:Timothy O’Toole, Ph.D.
Title: The Metabolic Effects Of Polystyrene Microplastics On The Liver Gene Expression
Lay Description:This voucher will help us to understand how exposure to microplastic pollutants reprograms liver gene expression contributing to obesity and diabetes.

New Hypothesis Expansion/Direction Medium OEFC Research Voucher Award(s): Medium research voucher applications support the expenses (up to $5,000) associated with critical exploratory research and proof-of-concept studies needed by CIEHS members for hypothesis generation and grant (re)submission.

Principal Investigator: Kyung U. Hong, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator: David W. Hein, Ph.D.
Title: Transcriptomic Analysis Of Human Hepatocytes Exposed To Heterocyclic Amines
Lay Description: Cancer-causing compounds called heterocyclic amines are often formed during high temperature cooking of meat. Our study aims to explore, for the first time, a potential and important link between dietary consumption of heterocyclic amines and development of insulin resistance, a pre-diabetic condition that raises the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Studying how these toxic compounds contribute to insulin resistance (and potentially type 2 diabetes) will ultimately help us understand how environmental factors, such as eating cooked meat, contribute to metabolic disease resistance and also devise ways to protect individuals who are susceptible to this condition.