How combined exposure to environmental and social stressors affects child neurological development
Faculty Associate Devon Payne-Sturges will continue research on how combined exposure to environmental and social stressors affect child neurological development through a new K01 grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. System science methodologies are needed so researchers can design simplified models and manipulate different factors assessing health impacts and risks, Dr. Payne-Sturges explains. “We need a new approach that allows us to think long-term about the policy decisions we are making.” Thus, the approaches used will assess the effects of cumulative early life exposures to atmospheric particulate matter and psychosocial stressors on children’s cognitive function and test whether race/ethnicity and sex modify these associations. Dr. Payne-Sturges' work will be guided by a team of mentors including; Professor Deborah Cory-Slechta from Rochester Medical Center, Professor Stephen Thomas from UMD, Professor Robin Puett from UMD, and Dr. Ross Hammond from the Brookings Institution. In addition, Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental Neuro-Development Risks) will accompany the project with their consortium of leading scientists.