Translational Studies of Neurobehavioral Effects of Mercury Exposure

描述(由申请人提供)：我们回应由Fogarty研究所和其他NIH单位联合发布的PAR-06-420，包括国家儿童健康和人类发展研究所和国家环境健康科学研究所。马萨诸塞大学医学院(UMMS)、奥本大学(AU)、哈佛大学(HU)和巴西联邦大学(UFPA)(巴西)的基础和临床研究人员要求提供资金，以开发一个跨学科的翻译生物行为研究和研究培训计划，重点关注重金属暴露对人类和动物模型的神经毒性影响。在第一个项目中，主要重点将是汞暴露的影响(最初侧重于甲基汞[甲基汞])。该项目将(A)验证评估非人类灵长类动物神经行为功能的新方法，(B)应用该方法研究汞暴露对行为的影响，以及(C)扩展该方法，以评估居住在巴西金矿作业附近的儿童汞暴露的感觉和神经认知功能。这笔拨款将允许一个三管齐下的计划：(1)在第一年，合作的研究人员将合并密歇根州立大学、HU、AU和UFPA的研究流，直到验证一系列适用于非人类灵长类和人类儿童的非语言神经行为测试。(2)在两个项目年，项目组将进行可行性研究，以应用电池评估汞暴露对感觉和神经认知的影响，包括(A)对非人类灵长类动物的实验室研究和(B)对儿童的实地研究。(3)该团队将评估开发一个持续的博士前和博士后研究培训计划的可行性，重点是对重金属暴露的神经行为影响进行跨学科分析。该项目将利用美国成功的项目模式，如NICHD支持的智力落后发展障碍研究中心。公共卫生相关性：该项目涉及环境汞对大脑和行为发育的影响。该项目将在巴西北部的金矿开采区进行，那里的金矿加工过程中汞污染严重。我们的主要关注点将是黄金矿工的子女。我们希望评估污染对儿童发展的影响，以便更好地向当地决策者提供信息，并采取措施开发潜在有用的治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We respond to PAR-06-420, jointly issued by the Fogarty Institute and other NIH units, including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Basic and clinical researchers of the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Auburn University (AU), Harvard University (HU), and the Universidade Federal do Para (UFPA) (Brasil) request funding to develop an interdisciplinary program of translational biobehavioral research and research training focusing on neurotoxic effects of heavy metal exposure in humans and animal models. In this first project, the primary focus will be on effects of Hg exposure (emphasizing initially on methymercury [MeHg]). The project will (a) validate novel methodology for evaluating neurobehavioral functioning in nonhuman primates, (b) apply the methodology to study effects of Hg exposure on behavior, and (c) extend the methodology to evaluate sensory and neurocognitive function of Hg exposure in children living near gold-mining operations in Brasil. The grant will permit a three-pronged program: (1) In the first year, collaborating investigators will merge streams of research at UMMS, HU, AU, and UFPA to the end of validating a battery of nonverbal neurobehavioral tests that is appropriate for use with both nonhuman primates and human children. (2) In both project years, the project team will conduct feasibility research to apply the battery to assess sensory and neurocognitive effects of mercury exposure in (a) laboratory studies of nonhuman primates and (b) field studies with children. (3) The team will evaluate the feasibility of developing a sustained program of pre-doctoral and post-doctoral research training focusing on interdisciplinary analysis of the neurobehavioral effects of heavy metal exposure. The project will take advantage of successful US program models such as the NICHD- supported Mental Retardation Developmental Disabilities Research Centers. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project concerns the effects of environmental mercury on the development of the brain and behavior. The project will be conducted in gold-mining areas in the north of Brazil, which are heavily polluted with mercury due to processing of gold ore there. Our main focus will be on the children of gold miners. We hope to assess the impact of the pollution on child development to better inform local decision-makers and to take steps toward development of potentially helpful therapies.