Placental origins of phthalate-induced changes in fetal reproductive development

Summary/Abstract: During pregnancy, the maternal brain and the fetal-placental unit are connected by way of an understudied hypothalamic-pituitary-placental (HPP) axis. This axis may shed light on the differential effects of stress exposure on maternal and fetal well-being complementing what we already know about the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the chronic maternal stressors arising from structural racism and discrimination in the U.S., and has also heightened disparities in food insecurity and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Stress and adversity in pregnancy not only increase risks of preterm birth, growth restriction and infant mortality, but they also heighten risk of postpartum maternal mortality and morbidity too (i.e., diabetes, heart disease, depression). The goal of this project is to expand the definition of maternal environment in our current R01 (ES029336-04) to include structural racism and discrimination (SRD), SARS-CoV-2 infection, and consumption of processed food and take-out meals as a function of heightened food insecurity. Likewise, we will expand our outcomes to include pregnancy outcomes and measures of maternal postpartum health. The primary biologic mediator in our project is placental human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which we will use to explain pathways from the maternal prenatal environment (i.e. COVID-19 and SRD) to maternal health outcomes in the postpartum period. This proposal is a supplement to a funded project that evaluates the role of the placenta in mediating the effects of phthalates on fetal reproductive system development in early human pregnancy. In the proposed supplement, a doctoral student in Epidemiology who is a member of an underrepresented group in science will 1) complete required coursework for the Epidemiology doctoral program; 2) conduct laboratory research in placental biomarkers; and 3) develop a dissertation project on theoretical, practical, and analytical aspects of public health intervention. While fulfilling the above aims, the candidate will also help to complete the Aims of the R01 and the competing revision of the R01. As part of this doctoral training, the scholar will increase knowledge and skills in environmental health, epidemiology, causal inference, and high dimensional analyses. This will prepare her to enter the scientific work force as a productive and independent researcher.