There is a high prevalence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurodegenerative diseases in the Maryland region. Many researchers are engaged in studying the health outcomes of these vulnerable populations without a robust scientific interaction with exposure scientists. This TRG is led by Dr. Kirsten Koehler (Professor), an exposure assessment expert, and co-led by Dr. Meredith McCormack, (Associate Professor, JHU School of Medicine), an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with asthma and COPD.
Our focus is on defining the contribution of exposure to air contaminants (e.g., PM2.5, gases, vapors, allergens) prevalent in the Maryland region to a range of cardiorespiratory health outcomes including asthma, cardiovascular disease, COPD, and autism. This working group will enable such interactions to catapult the impact of ongoing NIEHS-supported research, as well as spearhead new scientific directions (right). Innovations in exposure science coupled with health outcomes in the population can help unravel environmental determinants of diseases in vulnerable populations.
Cardiorespiratory Health and Airborne Contaminants
This TRG is led by Dr. Fenna Sillé (Assistant Professor) and Lesliam Quiros-Alacala (Assistant Professor) and builds upon the expertise of CHARMED members to understand the human health effects of individual and mixtures of emerging contaminants (metals, persistent organic compounds, endocrine disruptors) on a variety of health outcomes. CHARMED Center in this TRG members explore the role of early life exposures to phthalates on childhood bone health and examine the impact of metals exposure on immune responses, obesity, autism, and cardiometabolic risk.
Chemical Mixtures and Emerging Contaminants
This TRG is led by Dr. Chris Heaney (Associate Professor) and co-led by Dr. Ana Rule (Assistant Professor). This TRG  serves as a nucleus to merge parallel efforts and utilize the expertise and services of the Center to expand the scope of research on topics with important community implications.
As one important example, fossil fuel production, processing, and use have been drivers of poor air quality and community and health impacts for centuries. As older technologies are phased out and new ones are considered and developed, it is paramount to understand the potential and ongoing impacts that these activities can have on exposures, communities, and population health. Multiple Center members have been involved in understanding emission, pollutant distribution, and the community, economic, and health impacts of existing (e.g., oil refineries) and new (e.g., UNGD) fossil fuel development, distribution, and use, as well as the applications of community-engaged research methods. Many translational bridges have been successfully achieved by these investigations (left).
Community, Social, and Environmental Determinants of Health
