Project Summary (2017-2022)

The Research Translation Core (RTC) communicates and facilitates the University of Washington Superfund Research Program (UW SRP) Center research findings by working with each investigator to identify end-users of their research and to discuss strategies to engage targeted constituencies. The RTC helps implement the various data sharing and IIRT plans for the individual projects and cores.

The RTC assists the two field studies (the Mechanisms and Biomarkers of Metal Olfactory Injury in Salmon and Arsenic in Shallow Unstratified and Seasonally Stratified Urban Lakes: Mobility, Bioaccumulation and Ecological Toxicity projects) in integrating research with the needs and priorities of the agencies and communities directly involved at their field sites. The RTC helps facilitate discussions with Dr. Gallagher (the Mechanisms and Biomarkers of Metal Olfactory Injury in Salmon project) and EPA Region 10, ATSDR, and the Duwamish community stakeholders and assist in developing appropriate informational materials for these audiences. The RTC also assists Dr. Neumann (the Arsenic in Shallow Unstratified and Seasonally Stratified Urban Lakes: Mobility, Bioaccumulation and Ecological Toxicity project), who has already developed ties with community organizations and regulatory agencies working on the study site. The RTC leverages strong ties with the State Department of Ecology (the agency responsible for developing remediation strategies for the lake) and EPA Region 10 to provide lay-friendly material related to the objectives of the Arsenic in Shallow Unstratified and Seasonally Stratified Urban Lakes: Mobility, Bioaccumulation and Ecological Toxicity project and the potential implications of the results for site remediation and water quality standards.

The RTC assists the two biomedical projects (Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Cadmium Neurotoxicity and Role of Paraoxonases (PONs) in Modulating Cadmium and Manganese Neurotoxicity) with support groups for patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The RTC will assist these projects in disseminating the latest research findings related to chemical exposures and neurodegenerative diseases to lay audiences. Dr. Furlong (Role of Paraoxonases (PONs) in Modulating Cadmium and Manganese Neurotoxicity), Co-director of the RTC, will lend his experience with the UW Patent process to each of the UW SRP investigators and serve a key role in keeping the RTC apprised of program advances in patent acquisition and methods of technology transfer.

RTC staff works with the Training Core to include trainees in activities, such as involvement in the SRP Science Communication journal club and developing materials for their community engagement rotations. The RTC coordinates the activities of all investigators and cores in developing and executing Continuing Education Courses focused initially on advances in research in environmental exposures and neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Investigators are also involved in the Workshops, summits, and webinars hosted by the Community Engagement Core. Finally, RTC staff utilizes the SRP Community Engagement/Research Translation Data Collection Form reporting system developed by the NIEHS to ensure all research advances and community engagement activities are reported.