Area of Research Emphasis (ARE) #3:
Susceptible Subpopulations
Overview: When it comes to environmental exposures and their effects on human health, some groups of people are more vulnerable to harm than others. Age, gender, health status, and genetics can all influence how likely an individual is to be harmed by any given exposure. Researchers associated with this Area of Research Emphasis focus specifically on the unique factors that make children, women, and the elderly vulnerable to harm from environmental exposures. In particular, they study how environmental factors impact human development and reproduction and furthermore, how these impacts underlie the development of adult disease.
CEEH Connections: Fourteen researchers affiliated with the CEEH are working in this area of research emphasis. For example, Elaine Faustman is working to understand the precise mechanisms by which children are harmed by pesticide exposures. Another CEEH affiliate, Catherine Karr, is working to understand the impacts of air pollution on the respiratory health of infants. Terry Kavanagh and Peter Rabinovitch are working to increase our understanding of the basic biology of aging by studying how certain genetic alterations are associated with an increased lifespan in mice. Finally, CEEH affiliate Margaret Heitkemper is exploring connections between stress, sleep patterns, and genetic variations in women with irritable bowel syndrome, a condition that is poorly understood and difficult to treat.
ARE Director:
Dr. Elaine Faustman, UW Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
faustman@u.washington.edu
206-685-2269