Research and Training Grants in EnHS

Training Grants

Research Grants (listed by Principal Investigator)

Personal Dosimeter for OPS
06/01/2004 - 05/31/2007
Platypus Technologies (NIH)                        
Further development of a personal dosimeter to measure organophosphate pesticide exposures
through experimental validation measures testing models under lab and field conditions.

Comparison of Samples for Measuring Common Allergens in Inner City Homes
11/01/2006 - 4/30/2009
US Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

How Much is Too Much to Wheeze: Asthma Clinical Assessment and Standardized Allergen Sampling
11/15/2007 - 11/14/2010
BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER (HUD prime)                        
The study will investigate three leading allergen sampling methods to determine which one(s) correlate best with asthma clinical status to provide the field evidence base needed for method standardization.

Alexander, Bruce H.

Respiratory Health Effects of Community Asbestos Exposure
9/30/05-09/29/08
CDC/ATSDR
This study will evaluate potential respiratory health effects from community asbestos exposure due to asbestos contaminated vermiculite ore that was processed at a plant in Minneapolis, MN

New Strategies for Follow-Up and Detailed Study of Radiation, Genetic Factors, and Risk of Cancer and Benign High Risk Conditions (USRT Cohort Study)
8/15/03-8/14-08
NIH/NCI
This study of a cohort of 146,000 registered radiologic technologists will examine the risks associated with chronic low-level occupational radiation exposure and cancer, genetic factors that may modify these risks, and whether benign conditions contribute to cancer risk in this population

Respiratory Health and Community Asbestos Exposure
CDC
09/30/05-09/29/08
To determine the extent to which asbestos exposure from contaminated ore at the RM/WRG facility in Minneapolis resulted in adverse health consequences to workers and members of the surrounding community.

Brosseau, Lisa M.

A Randomized Intervention in Auto Collision Repair
08/01/2007 - 07/31/2008
Park Nicollet Institute
This project will test the effectiveness of occupational health and safety interventions in small autobody collision repair shops.

Controlling Mercury Vapor Release from Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
02/01/2008 - 10/31/2008
VAPORLOK TECH LLC
The goals of this project are to characterize typical air concentrations of mercury vapor from compact fluorescent lights, measure the effect of cleaning methods on air concentrations and compare different containment and recycling solutions for managing used or broken lights.

An Integrated Work Safety - Smoking Cessation Program
02/01/2008 - 07/31/2009
ClearWay Minnesota
The proposed project is a collaboration between Carver County Public Health (CCPH) and University of Minnesota (UMN) researchers to develop and pilot-test an integrated smoking cessation (SC) / occupational health and safety (OHS) program for small and medium sized
manufacturing worksites.

Church, Timothy R.

Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
09/30/1992 - 09/29/2011
NIH
A 19-year collaborative multi-site randomized screening trial to determine if screening for four cancers will result in a significant reduction in cancer-specific mortality.

Colorectal Cancer Family Registry
08/01/1997 - 06/30/2008
NIH Prime: Haile, USC
This project will continue the stimulation of a collaborative effort for the establishment of a cooperative family registry for epedemiologic and interdisciplinary study of individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer.

National Lung Screening Trial (NLST)
07/01/2002 - 06/30/2009
NCI/NIH
A collaborative, multi-site randomized screening trial, the primary objectives of which are to determine the mortality-reducing screening. effect and the benefit-to-risk ratio for spiral CT screening compared to chest x-ray.

Screening Colonoscopy Study
06/01/2003 - 05/31/2008
NIH Prime, Mem Sloan-Kettering
The primary goal of this study is to measure the impact of screening colonoscopies on the incidence and mortality rate of colon cancer in the study population.

Aspirin/Folate Prevention of Large Bowel Polyps
12/01/2004 - 06/30/2007
NIH Prime Darmouth Med. Sch.
The major goal of this clinical trial is to clarify the synergistic and independent chemopreventive effects of both vitamin D and calcium on the development of colon polyps. Epidemiological and experimental data indicate that both exert anti-neoplastic effects in the large colon.

Colorectal Chemoprevention with Calcium and Vitamin D
01/01/2004 – 08/31/2008
NCI/NIH
The major goal of this clinical trial is to clarify the synergistic and independent chemopreventive effects of both vitamin D and calcium on the development of colon polyps. Epidemiological and experimental data indicate that both exert anti-neoplastic effects in the large colon.

Calcium/Vitamin D, Biomarkers & Colon Polyp Prevention
01/02/2008 - 07/31/2008
Emory University (NIH Prime)

Church, Timothy R.

Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
09/30/1992 - 09/29/2011
NIH
A 19-year collaborative multi-site randomized screening trial to determine if screening for four cancers will result in a significant reduction in cancer-specific mortality.

Hedberg, Craig W.

Evaluation of Cluster Definitions for Foodborne Outbreak Investigations
02/01/2008 - 09/30/2008
Council Of State And Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
/CDC Prime
This project will define the key factors that drive the success of "local cluster" investigations for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella from a state perspective in five "model" states and from a national perspective for "multi-state clusters".

Nachreiner, Nancy

Violence Against Teachers: Etiology and Consequences
05/01/2004 - 04/30/2007
NIOSH
Goal: to determine the rates and consequences of physical assault and non-physical violence and to study the potential associations between each form of violence and several teacher-related environmental characteristics.

Peterson, Lisa A.

Co-Carcinogenic Activity of Nitrosamine Metabolites
NCI
05/05/93 - 3/31/07
This grant will investigate the ability of nitrosamine metabolites to interfere with the repair of O⁶ alkylguanine adducts through mechanisms other than competition for reaction with the repair protein, O⁶ alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase.
Role: PI

Role of O⁶-alkylguanine in nitrosamine-induced cancers
NIEHS/NCI
04/01/05 - 03/3/10
This project will investigate the role of formation and repair of bulky O⁶-alkylguanine adducts in the mutagenic and carcinogenic properties of environmental nitrosamines.
Role: PI

Ramachandran, Gurumurthy

Retrospective Assessment of Mixed Chemical Exposures
09/30/2001 - 08/31/2005
NIH-NCI
The objective of this project is to develop an improved exposure and dose assessment method for epidemiologic research on occupational cancer that accounts for uncertainties in exposure reconstruction due to sparse data, determinants of etiologically relevant dose, and exposures to multiple chemicals, using a Bayesian probabilistic framework.
Role: PI

Expert Decision-making in Exposure Assessment
08/01/2005 - 07/31/2008
CDC-NIOSH
The goal is to evaluate the accuracy of subjective assessments of exposure by occupational hygienists and to identify the determinants of accurate subjective assessment and to determine the sensitivity of the exposure assessments to these determinants.

Development of Environmental Health Outcome Indicators: Impact of Emission Reductions on Exposures and Exposure Distributions: Application of a Geographic Exposure Model
09/01/2007 - 10/31/2010
EPA
The exposure and health impacts of a given level of emission reductions will, in general, vary among sources (e.g., cars versus power plants). This project will investigate how emission reductions from various sources would impact (1) the population-average exposure level, and (2) the distribution of sources among income and ethnic subpopulations. We employ an existing mobility-based exposure model for ~ 25,000 people in Los Angeles and other areas of California's South Coast Air Basin.
Role: Co-PI

Raynor, Peter

Evaluating Factors Affecting the Performance of Airborne Infectious Isolation
01/01/2006 - 12/31/2006              
MN Medical Foundation
To develop methodology for measuring containment of contaminated air by AIIRs and to identify factors in ventilation and room design that can be altered easily to enhance containment.

HVAC Filtration for Airborne Microorganisms                                                                       01/01/2006 - 12/31/2006  
3M Non-tenured Faculty Grant
The goal of the project is to determine if airborne microorganisms can be collected more effectively than non-biological particles on HVAC filters. Role: PI

Matt Simcik

Hydrophobic Organic Contaminants in Lake Michigan Water
EPA
09/01/03-08/31/07
The goal is to analyze Lake Michigan water and air for nine contaminant classes of interest to GLNPO.

Toscano, Jr., William A.

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
01/01/2006 - 12/31/2006
MN Office Environmental Assistance
Assist Minnesota businesses with pollution prevention and waste management information,
facilitate implementation of improved practices through on site assistance, provide referral
for compliance with environmental regulations, and minimize transfer of pollutants from one
environment to another. Minnesota Technical Assistance Program website

Wattenberg, Elizabeth V.

Negative Regulators: Key Determinants in Carcinogenesis
3/1/2005 – 2/28/2010             
NIH/NCI  
The major goal of this study is to investigate the novel concept that phosphatases involved in a negative feedback loop that constrains Ras-stimulated signaling are vulnerable targets during early stages in carcinogenesis.

Training Grants

National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)
T42/CCT51042 07/01/2002 - 06/30/2006
NIOSH
The major goals of this effort are to enhance research training by addressing NORA research priorities that will ultimately result in the reduction of injury and illness in the work environment. Susan Gerberich, Director

NRSA Training Grant in Environmental and Occupational Health
NIH
07/01/2001 - 06/30/2007
The goals and objectives of the project are to recruit and train outstanding students in the transdisciplinary field of molecular risk assessment through a curriculum in environmental health science that emphasizes gene-environment interactions through the study of molecular sciences applied to toxicology and epidemiology. More information. William Toscano, Director