Superfund Research Program

Ariel Robinson Wins Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award
Ariel Robinson, a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky SRP Center, is the 28th recipient of the NIEHS SRP Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award. This annual award recognizes one outstanding graduate or postdoctoral researcher who exhibits scientific excellence, mentorship, and service to the community. Robinson was recognized for her research developing screening tools that support risk reduction while protecting communities.
NIH Grants & Funding: Implementation of New Initiatives and Policies
NIH has released an Implementation of New Initiatives and Policies webpage where you can learn more about the status of changes impacting the grants process and plans for implementing new initiatives and policies.
Photo of the Month
The University of New Mexico SRP Center hosted an informational table at a local community event in Albuquerque. Trainee Abigail Granath gave a presentation at the event on her work on fungi-sunflower bioremediation work and answered questions from community members. (Photo courtesy of the University of New Mexico).
Trainee Spotlight: Glowing Worms Unveil Neurotoxic Effects of Environmental Exposures
Javier Huayta, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher and trainee at the Duke University Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center. Under the mentorship and direction of Joel Meyer, Ph.D., Huayta studies the adverse effects that environmental exposures can have on the brain and neurodevelopment.
Research Brief 379: Developing a Simple Color-Changing Assay for NDMA Detection
A simple, two-step test can detect low concentrations of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in water. The test was developed by the NIEHS-funded Massachusetts Institute of Technology SRP Center and involves a simple assay that relies on fluorescence to signal when NDMA is present.
Superfund Research Program Science Digest
Check out the August 2026 issue of the SRP Science Digest, which features the latest updates from six multi-project centers funded by SRP in 2025. SRP Centers investigate how environmental exposures affect human health, design strategies to reduce exposures, and identify opportunities to protect health by bringing together researchers from different fields.
Bite-Sized Science
A review by Texas A&M University SRP Center researchers examined how human lung cell models are used to study the respiratory effects of volatile organic compounds. The researchers identified wide variation across current approaches and highlighted the need for models that better reflect repeated exposures and underlying biological effects. Read the summary: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42623132/

The NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) supports research at universities and small businesses to solve complex environmental health problems, reduce hazardous contaminant cleanup costs, decrease exposure to contaminants, and improve human health.

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About SRP

SRP provides evidenced-based practical, scientific solutions to protect health, the environment, and communities. Learn more about SRP’s structure, history and mandates, and program contact information.

Map of locations in the US where SRP is doing work

About SRP-Funded Research: Who, What, Where

SRP funds research grants across the country to reveal what people are exposed to and how exposures affect health, strategies to reduce exposures, and how to prevent disease.

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SRP News & Highlights

SRP communicates scientific progress and accomplishments, awards, and more through news stories, public health impact stories, research briefs, and the science digest.