Superfund Research Program
Research Support Core
Project Leader: Michal Toborek (University of Miami)
Co-Investigators: Leonidas G. Bachas (University of Miami), Esther P. Black, Vasileios Galinos Gavalas, Arnold J. Stromberg, Haining Zhu
Grant Number: P42ES007380
Funding Period: 2005-2025
Project-Specific Links
Project Summary (2008-2014)
The Research Support Core of the Superfund Basic Research Program at the University of Kentucky (UK-SBRP) will perform the vital role of supporting the research activities of all biomedical and non-biomedical projects. The main objective of the Research Support Core is to provide a central facility that will enhance and develop the research capabilities of the University of Kentucky SBRP (UK SBRP), particularly in the areas of systems biology, bioinformatics/biostatistics, proteomics, and PCB analysis. Creation of a central facility in these research areas is critical to studying the impact of nutrition on the toxicity of environmental pollutants (primarily PCBs). Establishment of a coordinated effort in the form of one Research Support Core will maximize both the research and cost effectiveness of UK-SBRP.
The Research Support Core consists of four entities (namely, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics/Biostatistical Analysis, Proteomics, and Analytical Components) directed by an expert in each area.
The Core Objectives are:
- Cross-link the individual research projects by developing a unified data management infrastructure and by providing feedback information to guide the process of discovering common pathways and mechanisms of modulatory effects of diets on vascular pathology of PCBs.
- Integrate diverse biological data from the individual research projects in order to generate a comprehensive systems biology model of the effects of nutrition on PCB-induced vascular toxicity.
- Develop and provide analytical services, expertise, and technical support in the areas of bioinformatics, proteomics, and PCB analysis.
- Provide training and support on using bioinformatics and systems biology tools as well as analytical chemistry approaches for toxicology research to all investigators involved in the UK-SBRP.
The Core will bind together critical research activities of individual projects to enhance the overall research potential and success of UK-SBRP. Thus, it will not only offer research services, but will also be critical for integration of individual research projects into a unified entity. In addition to providing a uniform platform for generation and computational analysis of high-throughput data (microarrays and proteomics), the Core will employ the systems biology approaches to create predictive models to better anticipate the effects of nutrition on toxicity of Superfund chemicals.