MaineHealth has been awarded a five-year, $1.1m grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to strengthen research into the health effects of PFAS exposure in children and adolescents.
The funding will also support mentoring initiatives aimed at developing future clinician-scientists specialising in environmental health research.
The award enables paediatric endocrinologist and principal investigator Dr Abby Fleisch to expand investigations into how PFAS exposure during childhood may affect long-term health outcomes.
The project will focus on understanding links between these widely used synthetic chemicals and conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
As a result of the funding, MaineHealth will increase its environmental health research capacity while creating new opportunities for early-career researchers.
The initiative will generate important evidence about the long-term consequences of PFAS exposure and help inform future public health strategies.
Speaking on the funding, Dr Fleisch said: “I am excited about this grant because it will help to build the next generation of investigators ready to advance environmental health in our state.
“These studies are important because Maine bears a disproportionate burden of environmental health hazards, including PFAS contamination, radon exposure, woodstove emissions and naturally occurring arsenic.”
Investigating the long-term effects of PFAS exposure
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of human-made chemicals used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products.
Often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and the human body, PFAS have been detected in water supplies, food sources and communities across the United States, including Maine.
Dr Fleisch’s latest research will examine how cumulative PFAS exposure from the prenatal period through adolescence influences health later in life.
Researchers will investigate whether exposure during key developmental stages affects body fat levels, cholesterol profiles and risk factors associated with diabetes in young adulthood.
The study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how environmental exposures during childhood can shape long-term health outcomes.
Exploring potential protective factors
In addition to examining health risks, the research will evaluate whether lifestyle factors can help reduce the impact of PFAS exposure.
Scientists will explore whether healthy dietary habits and regular physical activity may lessen some of the adverse effects linked to these chemicals.
Understanding potential protective measures could help healthcare professionals develop practical recommendations for families living in areas where PFAS contamination remains a concern.
Building environmental health research capacity
The new grant builds on several existing PFAS-related studies led by Dr Fleisch and will draw on established collaborations with large national research cohorts.
These partnerships will provide valuable opportunities for junior investigators to gain experience conducting patient-focused environmental health research.
Funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the project represents a significant investment in both scientific discovery and workforce development, helping to strengthen research efforts aimed at understanding and addressing the health impacts of PFAS exposure.