Ongoing Studies
Meta-AIR
Metabolic and Asthma Incidence Research Study
NIH NIEHS K99/R00, PI: Alderete
This research is focused on understanding the impacts of air pollution exposures on the gut microbiome, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease among young adults.
Meta-CHEM
NIH NIEHS R01, PI: Chatzi, Co-I: Alderete
The goal of this study is to examine the extent to which exposure to persistent organic pollutants are individually and/or jointly associated with 1) longitudinal alterations of glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and beta-cell function in youth and 2) impairment in the regulation of lipid and amino acid metabolism pathways associated with increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes.
Air Pollution Exposure in Mother’s Milk
Health Effects Institute Rosenblith New Investigator Award
PI: Alderete
The goal of this project is to determine whether prenatal and/or early life exposure to air pollutants affects the infant gut microbiota and fecal metabolome, thereby altering infant health in the first two years of life.
Chalifour BN, Holzhausen, Lim JJ, Yeo E, Shen N, Jones DP, Peterson BS, Goran MI, Liang D, Alderete TL. The potential role of early life feeding patterns in shaping the infant fecal metabolome: implications for neurodevelopmental outcomes. In press at Metabolic Health and Disease.
Breast milk PFAS in Mother’s Milk
NIH NIEHS R01, PI: Alderete
This project will be the first longitudinal study to examine the effects of early-life exposure to breast milk poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on infant growth trajectories and risk for childhood obesity in the context of the infant gut microbiome and fecal metabolome. Study findings will address a critical gap in our current understanding of breast milk PFAS and their obesogenic effects. Results from this proposal are expected to have significant implications in terms of identifying alterations in gut bacterial species and/or fecal metabolic pathways that contribute to obesity risk.
El Sendero (Pathways to Health)
NIH NIMHD P50, Project 1 mPI: Alderete, Goran
The goal of this project is to determine whether prenatal and/or early life exposure to air pollutants affects the infant gut microbiota and fecal metabolome, thereby altering infant health in the first two years of life.
LEÓN
Longitudinal integration of environmental exposures, omics, and childhood NAFLD Study
NIH NHGRI U01, mPI: Chatzi, Aung, Co-I: Alderete
This study will examine the impact of environmental exposures on the underlying mechanisms driving NAFLD risk and NAFLD progression that result in health disparities in Latino children. Findings will contribute evidence to inform precision prevention strategies for NAFLD in high-risk populations.