Pilot Projects

Background: Pilot research projects in specific areas of environmental health are available primarily for junior faculty. For senior faculty to be eligible, they must be expanding their research into new areas of environmental health. Since the major goal of the Program is to assist in the generation of preliminary data leading to the development of an R01 or similar grant, applicants must have academic positions that allow grant submissions. A broad range of research activities are eligible for funding consideration, ranging from studies of basic molecular mechanisms of disease to epidemiologic research. Studies can include but are not limited to exposure assessment and susceptibility to environmentally-induced diseases. There must be an environmental link to the research. The Center primarily carries out research in three areas, respiratory disease, cancer and neurotoxicology/neurodegenerative diseases. It is strongly recommended that new investigators, unfamiliar with the NIEHS Center make contact with a center member in their area of research for help in developing a proposal. Members and their areas of interest are listed at http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/niehs/index.html.

Thematic Areas of Research: While we are particularly interested in further developing the following thematic areas of environmental health, proposals are not limited to these areas:

1) Air toxics, 2) Environmental tobacco smoke, 3) Oxidative stress, 4) Genetic susceptibility, 5) Epigenetics

Instructions for Submission: The written application should be no more than 5-8 pages, exclusive of references, budget and NIH-formatted biographical sketches. Guidelines are as follows:

A. Title page - Title, investigator and affiliation, abstract in lay language

B. Specific Aims - Must include an environmental focus

C. Background - Limit to data relevant to proposal

D. Study Design/Method

E. Use of Facility Cores

F. Future Plans - Clearly outline how results will lead to a larger project

G. Budget/Justification - PI salary support is not permitted

H. NIH Formatted Biosketches of all key personnel

Applicants will have access to the Facility Cores of the Center at no or limited cost depending upon the extent of use. A detailed description of the Exposure Assessment, Trace Metals and Integrative Health Sciences (IHS) Cores is on the web site listed above. Brief descriptions and contact information are given below. Applicants are encouraged to develop projects that use these Facility Cores and discuss their project with the Directors. Investigators are required to obtain statistical input from the Center's IHS Core. Please contact Dr. Seamus Thompson at 342-1252 or e-mail him at jlt12@columbia.edu to make an appointment for statistical consultation. Applicants must acknowledge Center support (ES09089) in all publications.

Review Criteria and Mechanism: Priority will be given to proposals that are relevant to the research focus of the Center, innovative and experimentally sound. Applications will also be evaluated in terms of likelihood to result in RO1-type funding. Linked proposals or proposals demonstrating collaborative efforts will be given preference. An Internal Review Committee will initially review proposals. Applicants will be provided with this review and the opportunity to revise the proposal before review by an External Review Committee. Awards will be made in June. It is expected that funds will be spent within one year.

Contacts: Investigators interested in submitting applications are encouraged to discuss them with Dr. Regina Santella, the Center Director at 305-1996 or rps1@columbia.edu or Dr. Paul Brandt-Rauf, Deputy Director at 305-3959 or pwb1@columbia.edu. For administrative issues, contact Gail Garbowski, Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences at 305(5)-1364 or at gcg1@columbia.edu. Proposals should be submitted electronically as a single Adobe file to Gail.

Facility Cores of the NIEHS Center for Environmental Health in Northern Manhattan

Exposure Assessment Facility Core

Directors - Dr. Pat Kinney 305-3663 plk3@columbia.edu

Dr. Steve Chillrud 845-365-8893 chilli@ldeo.columbia.edu

This facility combines study design, methods development, air sampling, and analytical capabilities at MSPH and LDEO for the development and implementation of exposure assessments for a wide range of environmental samples. This has included study design, design and development of new sampling equipment, implementing field-sampling studies, and performing laboratory analyses on particulate samples.

Trace Metals Facility Core

Director - Dr. Joe Graziano 305-1678 jg24@columbia.edu

This facility has the capability to analyze biological samples for a broad array of metals including: lead, mercury, arsenic, iron, manganese, cadmium, copper, zinc, chromium, sodium, cobalt, platinum, potassium and others. In addition, the facility provides method development for these analyses, standardization, and quality control. It also provides for the measurement of major proteins of metal metabolism in serum or plasma.

Integrative Health Sciences Facility Core

Directors - Dr. Regina Santella 305-1996 rps1@columbia.edu

Dr. Seamus Thompson 342-1252 jlt12@columbia.edu

This facility provides assistance with study design, data management and analysis as well as power calculations. It receives, processes and inventories biospecimens for epidemiologic studies. DNA extraction and high throughput genotyping for single nucleotide polymorphism is also available. A number of immunoassays are carried out including determination of the DNA or protein adducts of several carcinogens, and oxidative stress assays (oxidized plasma proteins and urinary isoprostanes and 8-oxodeoxyguanosine).