HELIX-NAFLD

Duration

01/05/2019 - 30/04/2021

Coordinator

Martine Vrijheid

Funded by

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

This application proposes to use the US-European collaborative study HELIX to determine whether in utero exposures to air pollution and endocrine-disrupting chemicals are associated with pediatric liver injury after birth. The reviewers agreed during the discussion that the scientific premise is strongly supported by the investigators’ preliminary data and extant data from animal studies. If successful, the findings could enhance understanding of EDC exposures associated with pediatric liver injury and could inform liver disease prevention.

The team includes multidisciplinary complementary expertise and relevant experience, track record, supportive environment and resources, and access to the HELIX cohort, for successful completion of the aims. The panel found aim 3 to be particularly innovative with rigorous statistical methods and cost efficient -omic approaches. Some on the panel questioned the choice to use biomarkers for liver injury instead of imaging or ultrasound. The application was adequately responsive to the prior critique. Following discussion, the panel concluded that the impact will likely be high.

Total Funding

$ 108.986,20