The University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center (UK SRC) provides a focused, cross-disciplinary research and training environment to address critical human health challenges associated with halogenated organic substance exposures. The Center's four research projects work to reduce risks posed by environmental contaminants in vulnerable communities. Two biomedical research projects focus on healthy lifestyles, such as nutrition and exercise, as novel prevention/intervention paradigms against environmental insults that may be unavoidable, especially for vulnerable populations. These projects include animal model laboratory-controlled studies to investigate specific mechanisms of environmental disease and intervention/prevention against disease outcomes and a human component to expand understanding of translational intervention/prevention against environmental insults. Two environmental science engineering projects will advance approaches to reduce environmental exposure risks by developing novel 2D catalytic materials and temperature-responsive “smart” membranes/filters to detect and remediate PFAS, PCBs and chlorinated ethenes. The projects will also expand studies of sensing and capturing environmental contaminants with novel fate and transport studies of environmental contaminants aiming to more precisely characterize and remediate exposure risks associated with aging piping infrastructure, which is a critical need in Central Appalachia and the nation.
Biomedical Projects:
Project 1: Superfund Chemicals, Nutrition, and Multi-Organ Cardiovascular Risk
Project 2: Postnatal Complications & Interventions against Halogenated Organics during Pregnancy
Environmental Science Engineering Projects:
Project 3: Responsive Membranes and Advanced Materials for Sensing and Remediation of Halo-organics
Project 4: Fate and Transport of Contaminants in Aging Piping Systems