Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Michigan State University received a $100,000 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113), with funding obligated on September 27, 2025, and a completion date of August 31, 2027. The project, titled "The Role of the Epicardium and IRE1 in Mediating Environmental Exposure on Cardiac Function," will advance understanding of how environmental contaminants affect cardiovascular health through research on human heart organoids (HHOs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

The research will investigate how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—ubiquitous environmental contaminants found in household products, commercial packaging, drinking water, and the food chain—activate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling through inositol-requiring enzyme 1A (IRE1A), resulting in altered lipid profiles and impaired cardiac function. By studying IRE1A-mediated changes in lipid composition in three-dimensional heart organoid models, this project will identify early biomarkers of disease and clarify the mechanistic pathways linking environmental PFAS exposure to dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The work leverages advanced organoid technology to provide physiologically relevant research models superior to traditional two-dimensional culture systems, supporting NIEHS's mission to research environmental effects on biological systems and translate findings to reduce disease burden and promote population health.