Extracellular vesicles in Environmental Epidemiology Studies of Aging

项目摘要 本项目的主要目的是研究血浆代谢物在以下关系中的作用： 暴露于PM2.5和认知功能在不同种族的老龄化队列。该项目是一个补充， 正在进行的R35研究了细胞外囊泡在PM2.5暴露与 认知能力下降本次补考的考生为本科生 2022年秋季进入哥伦比亚大学的MPH课程。预计她将毕业于 亨特学院，学士学位2022年5月，获得人类生物学和神经科学学位。候选人是一名 波多黎各血统的美国人，是她家族中第一代读研究生的人。为她 研究和培训，她将由Baccarelli博士指导，PI的父母补助金与其他两个支持 该部门的教师（米勒博士和Kioumourtzoglou博士）。在建议的项目中，候选人将（1） 确定暴露于PM2.5和血浆代谢物之间的关联，使用非靶向 代谢组学分析，并表征与PM2.5暴露相关的代谢途径， 华盛顿高地和Inwood哥伦比亚老龄化项目（WHICAP）队列;（2）检查 血浆代谢物与整体认知功能之间的关系，使用简易精神状态检查（MMSE）进行测量（3） 研究血浆代谢物是否可以介导先前确定的PM2.5与 在WHICAP队列中的认知功能。通过拟议的分析，候选人将获得经验 和技能：（1）数据管理和清理，（2）分子流行病学统计分析，（3）调解 环境流行病学分析，（4）撰写和交流研究成果。候选人将 在常规学年中，还可以通过参加MPH课程的一部分来进行正式培训。 候选人和导师将每周会面一次，进行培训并讨论进展情况。

Project summary The main objective of this project is to investigate the role of plasma metabolites in the relationship between exposure to PM2.5 and cognitive function in an ethnically diverse aging cohort. This project is a supplement to an ongoing R35 that investigates the role of extracellular vesicles in the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and cognitive decline in the same cohort. The candidate for this supplement is an undergraduate student matriculating into the MPH program at Columbia University in the Fall of 2022. She is expected to graduate from Hunter College with a B.A. degree in Human Biology and Neuroscience in May 2022. The candidate is an American of Puerto Rican descent and the first generation in her family to attend graduate school. For her research and training, she will be mentored by Dr. Baccarelli, PI of the parent grant with support from two other faculty in the department (Dr. Miller and Dr. Kioumourtzoglou). In the proposed project, the candidate will (1) determine the association between exposure to PM2.5 and plasma metabolites, measured using untargeted metabolomics analysis, and characterize the metabolic pathways associated with PM2.5 exposure in the Washington Heights and Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP) cohort; (2) examine the relationship between plasma metabolites and global cognitive function, measured using mini mental state exam (MMSE) (3) Investigate whether plasma metabolites can mediate the relationship previously identified between PM2.5 and cognitive function in the WHICAP cohort. Through the proposed analyses, the candidate will gain experience and skills in: (1) data management and cleaning, (2) statistical analyses in molecular epidemiology, (3) mediation analysis in environmental epidemiology, (4) writing and communicating research findings. The candidate will also pursue formal training by take courses that are part of the MPH program during the regular school year. The candidate and mentor will meet once a week for training and to discuss progress.