Cellular Response Mechanisms to Environmental Challenge

该应用程序请求继续支持德克萨斯大学医学分校的NIEHS中心。 该中心的使命是整合、协调和促进一群公认的研究人员之间的互动和合作，这些研究人员正在进行与环境因素对人类健康的影响相关的研究。我们靠近许多重大环境问题的源头，如臭氧污染、细颗粒物排放、危险化学品排放、危险废物场地和儿科铅暴露，使UTMB成为一个引人注目的多学科环境健康科学中心。 在其存在的九年中，该中心在阐明细胞对环境挑战的反应机制、与社区合作提高对环境健康问题的认识以及制定预防和干预战略方面处于全国领先地位。UTMB NIEHS中心的首要主题是氧化应激在调节暴露于环境因素的健康影响中的作用。四个研究核心的研究人员正在研究产生和解毒(生物转化研究核心)的活性氧物种的机制，调节信号通路(氧化应激和信号研究核心)，损伤DNA(DNA修复和突变研究核心)，并参与哮喘(哮喘发病机制研究核心)的病因学。在追求这些研究方向的过程中，中心调查人员得到了四个服务核心(分子遗传学、 生物分子资源设施、细胞生物学和合成有机化学)，提供先进的技术、独特的试剂和专业知识，以及经济高效地获得更常规的服务或研究材料。该中心的科学发现通过充满活力的社区推广和教育计划(COEP)与社区推广委员会的建议传达给公众。NIEHS中心的各种活动由一个行政核心协调，该核心接受内部咨询委员会、外部咨询委员会和主任咨询委员会的意见，并监督各种发展计划，包括试点项目、研讨会和研讨会。

This application requests continued support for the NIEHS Center at the University of Texas Medical Branch. The mission of this Center is to integrate, coordinate and foster interactions and collaborations among a group of established investigators pursuing research pertinent to the effects of environmental factors on humani health. Our proximity to sources of many significant environmental problems, such as ozone pollution, i emissions of fine particulates, hazardous chemical releases, hazardous waste sites, and pediatric lead exposure, makes UTMB a compelling site for a multidisciplinary environmental health sciences center. During the nine years of its existence, this Center has emerged as a national leader in elucidating cellular response mechanisms to environmental challenge and in working with the community to enhance awareness of environmental health issues and to elaborate prevention and intervention strategies. The overarching theme of the UTMB NIEHS Center is the role of oxidative stress in mediating the health effects of exposure to environmental factors. Investigators in the four Research Cores are studying the mechanisms by which reactive oxygen species are produced and detoxified (Biotransformation Research Core), modulate signaling pathways (Oxidative Stress and Signaling Research Core), damage DNA (DNA Repair and Mutagenesis Research Core), and are involved in the etiology of Asthma (Asthma Pathogenesis Research Core). In pursuing these research directions, Center Investigators are aided by four Service Cores (Molecular Genetics, Biomolecular Resource Facility, Cell Biology, and Synthetic Organic Chemistry), which provide advanced technologies, unique reagents, and specialized expertise, as well cost-effective and efficient access to more routine services or research materials. Scientific findings from the Center are communicated to the public through a vibrant Community Outreach and Education Program (COEP) with advice from a Community Outreach Board. The various activities of the NIEHS Center are coordinated by an Administrative Core, which receives input from an Internal Advisory Board, External Advisory Board, and Director's Advisory Council, and oversees a variety of development programs including Pilot Projects, seminars, and workshops.