C-CHEM²

Researchers at the Center for Children’s Health, the Environment, the Microbiome, and Metabolomics (C-CHEM2) conduct research to understand the complex interactions among components of the prenatal and postnatal environment — toxicant exposures, the microbiome, and the metabolome — and their impacts on birth outcomes and infant health and neurodevelopment. Learn More about C-CHEM2

Summer Research Opportunities in Children's Environmental Health for:

Explore Our Projects
Project 1: CHERUB

Characterizing Exposures and Outcomes in an Urban Birth Cohort (CHERUB) 

Goals:

  1. Characterize pre- and postnatal environmental exposures of AA mother-infant pairs in metropolitan Atlanta
  2. Investigate the independent and interactive effects of prenatal chemical exposures upon the composition of the maternal microbiome for pregnant AA women in metropolitan Atlanta.
  3. Investigate the independent and interactive effects of prenatal chemical exposures upon birth outcomes for pregnant AA women in metropolitan Atlanta. 
Project 1: CHERUB
CCHEM2 Field team works with an infant during an in-home visit.
Project 2: MEND

Microbiome, Environment, and Neurodevelopmental Delay (MEND)

Goals:

  1. Characterize the relationship between prenatal and postnatal environmental exposures and the infant gut microbiome across the first year of life.
  2. Evaluate the associations among prenatal and postnatal toxicant exposures, the infant gut microbiome, maternal caregiving, and infant neurocognitive and social-emotional development.
Project 2: MEND
Project 3: MATRIX

Metabolic, Microbiome, and Toxicant-Associated Interactions (MATRIX)

Goals:

  1. Identify maternal prenatal metabolic pathways and metabolite-microbiome correlations that link environmental exposures and preterm birth. 
  2. Identify maternal prenatal metabolic pathways and metabolite-microbiome correlations that link environmental exposures and infant neurodevelopment.
  3. Identify infant postnatal metabolic pathways and metabolite-microbiome correlations that link environmental exposures and infant neurodevelopment.  
Project 3: MATRIX
COTC

Community Outreach and Translation Core (COTC)

Goals:

  1. Maintain and expand bi-directional dialogue with metropolitan AA women of child-bearing age and their families
  2. Develop strategies to translate existing children’s environmental health knowledge and emerging findings into practical information that families can use to protect their children’s health.
  3. Guide C-CHEM2 scientists in community engagement and outreach. 
COTC
see what others are saying
Mom and Baby
"I want to do anything I can to help" Ebony Foreman-Broaddus Study Participant
Teacher in Lab
"Health disparities start prenatally or even preconceptionally, thus, it's critical to initiate the investigation of the factors shaping child health disparities in the womb, as early as possible during the pregnancy." Anne Dunlop Project 1 PI
Teacher in Classroom
"Many factors that influence the microbiome are modifiable... It may involve changing your diet or avoiding use of a certain type of perfume or household cleaner. Once we know what changes are needed, we can develop interventions to minimize risk. The knowledge gained from these studies holds tremendous potential for promoting the health of the next generation of African American families." Betsy Corwin
Teacher in Lab
"The impetus for this project is that we don't know much about these types of exposures in the Southeast... And there's no other center looking at them in the Southeast. It's an ideal opportunity to understand what African American women in this cohort are exposed to and also determine what are the most relevant exposures." Dr. Dana Barr
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