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Your Environment. Your Health.

Superfund Research Program

  • Images and a graph showing relationship between cadmium exposure and stem cell counts

    Research Brief 301: Cadmium Exposure Impairs Production of Neurons Responsible for Learning and Memory

    A new study funded by the Superfund Research Program (SRP) shows cadmium exposure can impair new neurons from forming and maturing in the hippocampus region of the brain. Led by Zhengui Xia, Ph.D., the researchers at the University of Washington SRP Center also found that cadmium can lead to the death of stem cells that produce these neurons. In people, learning and memory formation depends on the production of new neurons in this region of the brain.
  • A collage of hazardous waste drums, a scientist doing fieldwork, two scientists in a lab, and a child holding a globe

    Superfund Research Program Science Digest

    Check out the December 2019 issue of the SRP Science Digest, which showcases SRP research providing practical, scientific solutions to protect health, the environment, and communities.
  • Elana Elkin

    Congratulations to Elana Elkin, Ph.D., the 22nd Recipient of the Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award!

    Presented November 19 at the 2019 SRP Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, the award honors a graduate or postdoctoral researcher demonstrating scientific excellence. Elkin's research examines how exposure to environmental contaminants may affect placental development and function, a common precursor to adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth.
  • Joshua Preston working in a lab

    SRP Trainee Highlight

    University of Kentucky (UK) Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center trainee Joshua Preston is an undergraduate senior working under the guidance of Kevin Pearson, Ph.D. With the SRP team, Preston is exploring how exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during and around pregnancy impacts offspring later in development.
  • Two trainees in a lab

    The Superfund Research Program's Economic and Societal Benefits

    We are pleased to announce the publication of Assessing the Economic and Societal Benefits of SRP-Funded Research in the June 2018 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives. Check it out, along with the accompanying editorial by NIEHS Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D.
  • Superfund Research Program Map

    Where We Work

    If you are interested in learning more about where SRP grantees are working, check out the SRP map to see the locations of SRP grantees, as well as hazardous waste sites where they conduct research or outreach.
  • Newspaper and laptop

    Hot off the Press

    Read the latest publications from SRP researchers.
  • Telescope

    SRP Search Tools

    SRP has five search tools to help you learn more about the projects and researchers funded by the Program. The new SRP Faceted Search tool allows you to apply one or more filters to browse information about SRP projects. Filters include chemicals studied, health outcomes, environmental media, and remediation approaches.

The NIEHS Hazardous Substance Basic Research and Training Program (Superfund Research Program [SRP]) provides practical, scientific solutions to protect health, the environment, and communities. As part of NIEHS, an Institute of the National Institutes of Health, SRP works to learn more about ways to protect the public from exposure to hazardous substances, such as industrial solvents, arsenic, lead, and mercury. These and other toxic substances are found in contaminated water, soil, and air at hazardous waste sites throughout the United States.

SRP funds university-based grants on basic biological, environmental, and engineering processes to find real and practical solutions to exposures to hazardous substances. These activities complement the work of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and other federal and state agencies.

In keeping with the NIEHS mission, SRP's teams of diverse professionals develop, test, and implement unique, solution-oriented approaches to address complex environmental health problems. These teams study environmental contaminants in order to lower environmental cleanup costs, reduce human exposure, and improve human health. SRP's central goal is to understand and break the link between chemical exposure and disease.

To instantly hear about SRP news, research advances, events, and job opportunities for SRP trainees, follow @SRP_NIEHS on Twitter.

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