Emissions of the air pollutant sulfur dioxide have been dramatically decreased during the past 30 years but for some people even a little inhaled sulfur dioxide may still be too much.

Drs. Satya and Louise Prokash of the University of Texas Medical Branch Center for Environmental Toxicology, recently challenged the current model of eukaryotic DNA replication where DNA polymerase (Pol)ε primarily replicates the leading strand while Pol replicates the lagging strand.  The team (Johnson et al., 2015, Molecular Cell 59:163-175) provided genetic evidence that Pol replicates both strands, while Polε’s proofreading activity is important for removing Pol generated errors from the leading strand.  The apparent lack of Pol contribution to leading strand replication is due to differential mismatch removal rather than differential mismatch generation. Altogether, our genetic studies with Pol3 and Pol2 mutator alleles support the conclusion that Pol and not Polε, is the major DNA polymerase for carrying out both leading and lagging DNA synthesis.

FUNDING PERIOD 04/01/2016 - 03/31/2017

ELECTRONIC LETTER OF INTENT PACKAGE DUE FEBRUARY 11TH, 2016

Funds are available through the NIEHS Center in Environmental Toxicology at UTMB to support pilot studies designed to improve environmentally-linked human health through basic and translational research endeavors. Proposals are open to all UTMB investigators eligible for federal funding, but should be compatible with the Center's mission and document objectives consistent with environmental health research and/or environmentally-based community outreach and engagement. Membership discounts for the use of Center-sponsored Facility Cores and other membership privileges will be extended to non-Center members who receive pilot project funding. CLICK HERE

In a recent call to action, “Research as Part of Public Health Emergency Response,” authored by the NIH Director, the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the CDC Director, voiced the critical need for well-designed, effectively executed research to address a pressing need to understand environmental exposures during disasters and the potential health outcomes.  These public health emergencies present challenges to the research community because of their unpredictable onset as well as their health and environmental effects.  Currently, human subjects research in the period immediately following disasters is hampered by the time needed to design protocols and implement data collection, so the opportunity to acquire crucial early epidemiologic, medical, and environmental data and samples is usually missed.  Dr. Sharon Croisant (Director, Community-Based Research) participated in a NIEHS-sponsored webinar in September 2014 that described CET experiences with disaster research and how Dr. Croisant’s work with vulnerable communities will inform future Public Health DR2 and Science Preparedness efforts to help respond to the need for timely research.  For more information on the webinar, click here.