Integrative Environmental Health Sciences Facility Core (IEHSFC)
IEHSFC Director: Joel Kauffman, MD., MPH
joelk@u.washington.edu
(206) 616-3501
Director, Clinical & Translational Sciences: Christopher Goss
Manager, Clinical & Translational Sciences: Karen Jansen
Director, Bioinformatics & Biostatistics: Kathleen Kerr
Manager, Bioinformatics & Biostatistics: Theo Bammler
Co-Manager, Bioinformatics & Biostatistics: Dick Beyer
Manager, Technology Access: Colin White
The Integrative Environmental Health Sciences Facility Core (IEHSFC) serves the CEEH as a focal point for interdisciplinary research, the portal for accessing Center services, and a comprehensive consultation resource to assist CEEH investigators and trainees, emphasizing clinical, translational, and population-based studies. The IEHSFC allows UW EHS research to move as smoothly as possible not only from “bench-to-bedside” but also from population-based observations to bench to clinical research and onward to public health policy and practice. This facility core builds on a rich history of environmental health translational and epidemiological research at the UW. The IEHSFC facilitates EHS research - including translational research - and fosters the integration of basic sciences research at the University of Washington with population-based and clinical EHS research. The core’s mission is to provide access and consultation to CEEH investigators to ensure that the most modern molecular and ‘systems biology’ approaches are used to identify the interactions between genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors that contribute to the major chronic diseases.
The core is comprised of three units: the Clinical/Translational Services Unit (CTSU), the Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit (BBU, this unit also includes OMICs integration), and the Technology Access Unit (TAU). The Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit provides many of the services that were previously provided by a dedicated Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core. The other two units provide suites of services that are essentially new in this proposal. While the core offers a myriad of concrete services (and even a dedicated space for clinical evaluation in the CTSU), the core is first and foremost a literal and virtual collaborative space dedicated to encouraging and enabling innovative translational research and collaborations across disciplines at the UW. The goals of the IEHSFC are to:
- Provide consultation and facilitation of clinical, translational, and population-based research in the environmental health sciences (Clinical/Translational Services Unit, CTSU).
- Provide comprehensive service for the design of studies utilizing high throughput OMICs technologies and the analysis of the corresponding data (Bioinformatics & Biostatistics Unit, BBU).
- Connect CEEH investigators with existing UW state-of-the-art technologies available through UW Cost Centers, including analytical cytology, analytical biochemistry, small molecule mass spectrometry, transgenic animal services, animal and human imaging, histology, immunohistochemistry, stereology, and animal and human metabolic phenotyping (Technology Access Unit, TAU).
- Provide a seamless interface for CEEH investigators between the IEHSFC and the Functional Genomics & Proteomics and the Exposure Assessment, Biomarkers & Metabolomics Facility Cores of the CEEH in the area of OMICs integration.
The core serves as an initial point of contact for Center investigators interested in accessing the myriad services and resources available to them through the Center. Through in-person meetings and discussions, IEHSFC staff and the investigator explore together how Center funds, equipment, and expertise can best contribute to the success of the research endeavor. If the proposed project is relevant to the Center theme and requires supplemental support, the investigator may be directed to apply for Technology Access or Pilot Project funds. If appropriate, reduced or no cost access to CEEH facility cores (FGP-FC, EABM-FC) or IEHSFC Units (CTSU, BBU) may be provided. If the project requires access to technology or instrumentation that is not directly available through the Center, the investigator may be directed to a UW Cost Center that provides this service through the TAU manager. Finally, once the data are gathered, the IEHSFC provides analytical support and assistance in preparing any publications or proposals that may result from the research. The flow chart below illustrates this process (click on the image to download a full-sized PDF of the chart).
For more information about this core and the services it provides, please contact the Core Director listed above.