Project Summary (2014-2020)

The Human Subjects and Sampling Core provides a single point of contact to obtain data and biological samples from study subjects and environmental samples linked to human subjects. This Core builds on the experience and skills of the UPR School of Public Health and the UPR Medical Sciences Campus in recruiting cohorts of pregnant women for diverse studies over the last decade. During the previous funding period this Core formed and trained a team of nurses, physicians, support staff and graduate students to recruit 480 pregnant women. Recruitment is continuing in this project for an additional 1000 study participants; ultimately yielding a cohort of 1,200+ live births needed for the projects.

Detailed information on potential predictors of preterm birth is collected through standardized questionnaires administered three times during pregnancy and through systematic abstraction of medical record data. Biological samples are collected from pregnant women, and tap water samples are collected from their homes. All biological samples are processed by this Core, stored at -80°C and prepared for shipment. Using laboratory sample tracking software, researchers in this Core and the projects have real-time access to the sample/aliquot location in specific freezers and laboratories, sample volumes available, and information on sample chain of custody and previous or planned uses. Groundwater samples are collected throughout the year in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Dynamic Transport and Exposure Pathways of Contaminants in Karst Groundwater Systems project. Groundwater and tap water samples are analyzed for water quality and contaminants by the Dynamic Transport and Exposure Pathways of Contaminants in Karst Groundwater Systems project. Batches of samples are shipped to investigators for analysis as required by individual projects. Data collected is exported to the Data Management Core for integration of all data sets to enable analysis and data mining by end-users.