Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Wright State University received a $644,459 Project Grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113), awarded April 1, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2031. The grant funds research investigating how polymorphisms in human immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) gene regulatory regions control antibody production and sensitivity to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands—environmental toxicants such as dioxin-like chemicals. The research addresses a critical gap between existing mouse model studies and human biology by creating human B-lymphocyte cell lines to evaluate the transcriptional control mechanisms governing antibody production in response to environmental stressors, ultimately determining how host genetics and environmental exposures influence susceptibility to infections and disease.

The project delivers basic and translational research products examining gene-environment interactions in human antibody regulation, with direct applications to understanding how environmental toxicant exposure affects immune function across diverse human populations. Study outputs will include mechanistic characterization of 3cIGHRR variants' effects on IGH gene genomic interactions, experimental validation using human cell-based models, and scientific publications and data that advance environmental health knowledge relevant to identifying vulnerable populations and developing intervention strategies to reduce exposure burden and improve population health outcomes.