CACHET - Environmental Biomarkers Core

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1. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOMARKERS CORE (EBC): ABSTRACT The overall goal of the Environmental Biomarkers Core (EBC) is to provide bioanalytical services in support of ChicAgo Center for Health and EnvironmenT (CACHET) members conducting environmental health research at the University of Chicago (UofC) and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). By providing the necessary experimental expertise to assess a wide range of environmental biomarkers, the EBC directly contributes to CACHET’s mission to mitigate environmental health inequities within our communities. Toward that end, the EBC consists of two complimentary Sub-Cores: 1) a mass spectrometry-based Environmental Exposures Sub- Core that is P30-specific in services and resources available to members, and 2) a Biomarkers of Exposure Effects and Susceptibility Sub-Core that leverages existing institutional resources at UofC and UIC and streamlines services to members. The P30-specific Environmental Exposures Sub-Core at UIC will use mass spectrometry to assess toxic chemicals, heavy metals and metalloids, herbicides, pesticides, perfluoroalkyl substances, steroids and DNA oxidation products, among others, in both biological and environmental samples. New assays for environmental compounds will be developed and validated as needed by CACHET investigators. The Biomarkers of Exposure Effects and Susceptibility Sub-Core will leverage established institutional strengths in microbiome sequencing, metabolomics, proteomics, genomics, epigenomics and transcriptomics on the two campuses. Further, bioinformatics support for all CACHET PI-initiated research projects and Facility Core activities will be provided from established institutional cores at both partner institutions. For all of these services, CACHET members will enjoy priority access and subsidized rates for environmental health research projects provided by Center resources and leveraging institutional cost-sharing of intellectual expertise, management platforms and heavy investments in high-end instrumentation. These combined resources help address the EBC mission to provide qualitative and quantitative data regarding biomarkers of exposure, disease and therapeutic responses as well as levels of environmental contaminants in human subjects, model systems and environmental samples at subsidized rates and with priority access to Center members.