Superfund Research Program

The cross-disciplinary team of scientists from the USC Keck School of Medicine and Viterbi School of Engineering launched the ShARP Center June 20. (Photo courtesy of USC)

A cross-disciplinary team led by Vaia Lida Chatzi, M.D., Ph.D., is working to study how PFAS exposure contributes to liver disease and to reduce the chemicals’ harmful effects. The team will establish the Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program for PFAS Assessment, Remediation, and Prevention (ShARP). ShARP will focus on the role of PFAS in human liver disease.

“Human biomonitoring studies show that almost everyone in the U.S. has detectable PFAS levels in their blood,” said Chatzi. “Yet, we don't really know how PFAS exposure relates to human liver disease."

ShARP researchers are characterizing PFAS at several water reclamation facilities and using 3D modeling to understand how PFAS contribute to liver disease. The team hopes to build trust with communities and raise awareness about the health implications of PFAS exposure.

To learn more, see the NIEHS Environmental Factor Newsletter.