NewGeneris research can be categorized under the following types of activities:
a) Collection and management of questionnaire information, exposure data and biological samples from 3 new cohorts and 4 existing cohorts
b) Experimental studies to develop and validate new biomarkers and high-throughput analytical methodologies, including in vitro studies to assess effects on sperm, evaluate transplacental transport and metaboli-sm and thus possibly identify new relevant biomarkers
c) Assessment of exposure from questionnaire and other data, analysis of biological samples for biomarkers of carcinogen exposure, cancer and immunotoxic risks, and genetic and phenotypic biomarkers of susceptibility
d) Statistical analysis of the data generated, evaluation of dose-response relationships, risk assessment, appraisal of public health implications, ethical considerations
The project’s investigation of the role of environmental exposures on childhood disease causation will focus on the following series of dietary and environmental chemicals:
Chemical class
|
Model compound
|
Source
|
Class of toxicity
|
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
|
benzo[a]pyrene
|
- environmental contamination of the food chain
- formation during baking and frying
- smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
|
- genotoxic carcinogenesis
- immunotoxicity
|
heterocyclic amines
|
- 2-amino-3-methyl- imidazo[4,5-f]-quinoline (IQ)
- 2-amino-1-methyl-6-
phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP)
|
- formation during baking and broiling
|
- genotoxic carcinogenesis
|
acrylamides
|
monoacrylamide
|
- formation during baking and frying
|
- genotoxic carcinogenesis
|
nitrosamines
|
dimethylnitrosamine
|
- environmental nitrate contamination of the food chain and subsequent endogenous formation
|
- genotoxic carcinogenesis
|
mycotoxins
|
- Aflatoxin
- Deoxynivalenol
|
- environmental contamination of the food chain
|
- genotoxic carcinogenesis
- immunotoxicity
|
organochlorinated compounds
|
- dioxin (TCDD)
- PCB
|
- environmental contamination of the food chain
|
- cocarcinogenesis
- immunotoxicity
- endocrine disruption
|
DNA reactive aldehydes
|
- 4-hydroxynonenal
- malondialdehyde
|
- macronutrients
|
- genotoxicity upon lipid peroxidation
- immunotoxicity
|
alcohols
|
ethanol
|
- life style factor
|
- cocarcinogenesis
- immunotoxicity
|
Research is distributed between 14 Workpackages, whose objectives are briefly described in the Workpackages page
|