Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) awarded the University of Southern California a Project Grant of $1.256 million under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113) on April 10, 2026, for a translational research initiative examining per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metabolic diseases. The grant supports an eight-year research program (through March 31, 2034) organized into four interconnected research areas: epidemiological analysis of PFAS exposure and health outcomes across over 50,000 participants in 18 diverse cohorts; elucidation of biological mechanisms through innovative in vitro models including 3D liver tissue cultures and single-cell RNA sequencing; application of advanced data science and multi-omics approaches to identify biomarkers and enhance precision risk assessment; and community-engaged translation of findings into culturally tailored prevention and intervention strategies targeting metabolic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease.

The research deliverables include the creation of a comprehensive dataset linking environmental exposures to disease risk across the lifespan, identification of omics signatures associated with PFAS exposure, development of mechanistic models explaining how PFAS disrupts metabolic function, and implementation of evidence-based, community-informed intervention strategies to reduce exposure burden and improve population health outcomes for affected communities.