Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) awarded a $163,856 Project Grant to the University of New England on April 10, 2026, under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113). This award supports a prospective epidemiological study investigating the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) mixtures and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a cohort of reproductive-aged Black women from Detroit, Michigan. The research leverages existing data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (SELF) to evaluate associations between PFAS exposure and pregnancy outcomes including spontaneous abortion, gestational age, and birth size, while examining perceived stress as a potential effect modifier. The project will be completed by March 31, 2029.

The grant is structured as a two-phase career development award (K99/R00), with the initial K99 phase focusing on mixture analysis and stress modification effects, and the R00 phase building on these findings to identify underlying biological pathways through untargeted metabolomics analysis. The study will utilize baseline plasma PFAS concentrations from existing cohort data and prospectively assess pregnancy outcomes through structured questionnaires and clinic visits. By investigating both environmental chemical mixtures and modifiable psychosocial factors, this research directly supports NIEHS's mission to translate environmental health science into strategies that reduce disease burden and promote population health across vulnerable populations.