ONES Program 2007 Awardees
Outstanding New Environmental Scientists

07 January 2008

Five-year grants totaling $3.5 million will go to seven exceptionally talented and creative investigators in the early stages of their careers, the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced today. The awards are being made under NIEHS’s Outstanding New Environmental Sciences (ONES) program. Transcript (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/events/2008/01-07/ONES_2007.swf)  

• Carol Shreffler, Ph.D., Overview of the ONES program. (7:50)  (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/events/2008/01-07/01-shreffler.cfm)
• Heather B. Patisaul, Ph.D., North Carolina State University, Raleigh, will study the mechanisms by which common endocrine active compounds, such as bisphenol A and genistein, may impact the endocrine system and potentially advance puberty. (16:47)  (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/events/2008/01-07/02-patisaul.cfm)
• Wenbin Deng, Ph,D, University of California, Davis, will use a combination of cellular and molecular techniques to study the mechanisms which causes lead to be neurotoxic in the developing brain. (27:09)  (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/events/2008/01-07/03-den.cfm)
• Jason R. Richardson, Ph.D., University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, will explore the gene-environment interactions that contribute to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researcher will evaluate pesticide exposure as a potential risk factor for ADHD. (31:20)  (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/events/2008/01-07/04-richardson.cfm)
• Cheryl L. Fattman, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, will conduct studies to help develop new treatments for patients suffering from silicosis. Silicosis, a respiratory disease brought on by inhalation of silica particles, causes chronic inflammation and scarring in the lungs. (32:19)  (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/events/2008/01-07/05-fattman.cfm)
• Brent Carter, M.D., University of Iowa, Iowa City, will study the mechanism that causes lung inflammation and fibrosis after exposure to asbestos. (26:32)  (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/events/2008/01-07/06-carter.cfm)
• Timothy R. Nurkiewicz, Ph.D., West Virginia University, Morgantown, will study the mechanisms by which air pollutants, such as particulate matter, cause cardiovascular dysfunction. (28:57)  (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/video/events/2008/01-07/07-nurkiewicz.cfm)
• Laura J. Niedernhoffer, M.D., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, will seek to understand the molecular mechanisms by which DNA damage promotes aging. The researcher will examine some common industrial exposures to determine the impact these chemicals have on the aging process and whether they induce DNA damage. (Did not attend.)