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Your Environment. Your Health.

DNA & Your Environment (Environmental Polymorphisms Registry – DNA Registry for Diseases)

Study Background

Looking to join this study?

Visit the Join an NIEHS Study Website

For More Information

The NIEHS is pleased to announce the availability of a repository of DNA samples collected as part of the Environmental Polymorphisms Registry (EPR). The EPR is an ongoing DNA repository established by the NIEHS Clinical Research Branch to help NIEHS and other scientists screen for genetic polymorphisms in "environmentally sensitive genes."

The Environmental Polymorphisms Registry (EPR) is a long-term initiative to collect approximately 20,000 DNA samples from individuals. These DNA samples will be used to examine risk factors for common health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, and Alzheimer’s disease. Genetic data, along with health information (e.g., family history of disease, environmental exposure, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle data) will be used to select participants for voluntary follow-up studies to help researchers prevent, diagnose, and treat common health conditions in individual patients and whole populations.

By donating a blood sample to the EPR, you will be helping scientists discover changes in our genes that make us more or less sensitive to environmental factors and that can increase or decrease our risk for disease.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Adults (greater than or equal to 18 years of age) or minors (ages 8-17 years old) are eligible to enroll in the Environmental Polymorphisms Registry.
  • Participants must be able to understand and provide written informed consent (adult participants or parent/guardian of minors) and assent (minors) to participate.

Principal Investigator

Shepherd H. Schurman
Shepherd H. Schurman, M.D.
Associate Medical Director, NIEHS Clinical Research Unit
Co-Director Environmental Polymorphism Registry
Tel 984-287-4411
Fax 301-480-3416
shepherd.schurman@nih.gov
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop CU-01
Durham, N.C. 27709

Collaborating Investigators

Adam I. Schiffenbauer
Adam I. Schiffenbauer, M.D.
Staff Clinician, Environmental Autoimmunity Group
Tel 301-451-6270
adam.schiffenbauer@nih.gov
10 Center Dr
Magnuson Clinical Center
Bethesda, MD 20892-1627
Not Pictured
Rita Volochayev, Ph.D., C.R.N.P., C.P.M.N.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Tel 301-451-6266
Fax 301-480-4470
rita.volochayev@nih.gov
10 Center Dr
Hatfield Clinical Research Center
Bethesda, MD 20892-1301

Project Manager

Not Pictured
Jamie R. Glover
Project Director, EPR

Tel 919-287-4382
jamie.glover@nih.gov

EPR Internal Advisory Committee

The EPR Internal Advisory Committee is composed of:

  • Michael B. Fessler, Chief, Immunity, Inflammation, and Disease Laboratory, NIEHS, and EPR IAC Chair
  • Shepherd H. Schurman, Associate Medical Director, NIEHS Clinical Research Unit, Clinical Research Branch, and EPR PI
  • Frederick W. Miller, Deputy Chief, Clinical Research Branch, and Chief, Environmental Autoimmunity Group, NIEHS
  • Jack A. Taylor, Chief, Molecular & Genetic Epidemiology Group, Epidemiology Branch, NIEHS
  • William C. Copeland, Chief, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, NIEHS
  • Steven R. Kleeberger, Chief, Environmental Genetics Group, Immunity, Inflammation, and Disease Laboratory, NIEHS
  • Alison Harrill, Geneticist, Molecular Toxicology and Genomics Group, Biomolecular Screening Branch, National Toxicology Program, NIEHS
  • Subject matter experts – as needed for specific requests
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