The primary goals of this Children's Center are to use a mulfidisciplinary approach to address crifical gaps in our knowledge about the impact of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (phthalates/BPA) on child development, to actively involve junior invesfigators in this research effort, and to actively communicate our research findings to parents, childcare providers and healthcare providers. There are three common themes that unite the three research projects and the Outreach and Translation Core (COTC) of this Center: (1) assessment of exposures during two critical developmental windows (prenatal and adolescent), (2) investigation of joint effects of phthalate/BPA exposure and a high fat diet/obesity, and (3) investigation of the role of oxidative stress and infiammation in mediafing effects. At the heart of the research effort will be two human cohorts (Project 1)a prospective pre-birth cohort currently in progress in Urbana, Illinois and an adolescent cohort to be assessed as part of a long-standing prospecfive study in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The Center will also include laboratory animal projects (Projects 2 and 3) which will model the timing of exposures in these human cohorts, a COTC, and this administrative core which will provide oversight, coordination and integration of all Center-related activities. The responsibilites ofthe Administrafive Core will include organizing and scheduling monthly meefings ofthe Internal Advisory Committee and monthly research team meetings ofthe Center investigators, organizing yearly meetings of the Center scientists with the six-member External Advisory Committee, coordinating the career development activities ofthe center, and facilitating interactions ofthe Pediatric Health Specialist with the COTC to communicate research findings to the healthcare community. As Director and Associate Director of the Children's Center, Drs. Susan Schantz and Jodi Flaws will be responsible for conducting Internal and External Advisory Committee meetings and regularly evaluating the research progress of each of the projects, as well as the outreach activites ofthe COTC. They will also be responsible for general fiscal oversight of the Center. Dr. Flaws will have full authority to make decisions in Dr. Schantz's absence.
Phthalates and bisphenol A are endocrine disrupfing chemicals that are found in many consumer products. Exposure is widespread, but the the impact of this exposure on child health and development is not wellunderstood. This Center's research will fill an important gap in our knowledge by investigating the effects of these chemicals, both alone and combinafion with a high fat diet on reproducfive and neural development.
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