Early life fluoride exposure, neurodevelopment and childhood sleep patterns
Project Number5R00ES031676-04
Former Number1K99ES031676-01A1
Contact PI/Project LeaderMALIN, ASHLEY
Awardee OrganizationUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Description
Abstract Text
PROJECT SUMMARY
I am a clinical psychologist interested in understanding the role of environmental exposures in neuro-endocrine
development. The goal of this proposal is to receive training to acquire the skills needed to continue my
academic career by examining the role of child fluoride exposure in sleep patterns and melatonin production.
In this proposal, I plan to train with an expert mentoring team with transdisciplinary expertise covering
exposure biology, sleep disorders, toxicology, epidemiology and biostatistics. Specifically, I will train in 1)
exposure science with Dr. Manish Arora 2) clinical sleep research with Dr. Michael Thorpy, and 3) toxicology
with Dr. Robert Wright. I will also acquire expertise in epidemiology and the epidemiological assessment of
pediatric sleep with Drs. Rosalind Wright, Emily Oken and Kristie Ross, as well as biostatistics with Dr. Chris
Gennings. The proposed formal coursework and training with my mentors, advisors and collaborators will
enable me to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become an independent transdisciplinary
researcher. Further, it will enable me to achieve my long-term career goal of becoming an environmental
health scientist investigating the role of environmental toxicants in sleep and neuro-endocrine development.
I propose to leverage biospecimens and collected measures, including urine, saliva, Actigraphy data, and self-
reported daytime fatigue from an existent prospective birth cohort, the Programming Research in Obesity,
Growth Environment and Social Stress study. I also aim to conduct an in-depth clinical study examining
associations of urine fluoride with gold standard measures of sleep among adolescents. This work will address
the following aims: 1.) Determine whether childhood urinary fluoride concentrations (CUF) at 4-5 and 6-7 years
predict sleep and wake time, sleep duration and sleep efficiency (measured via accelerometry) and daytime
fatigue (measured via a validated self-report questionnaire) at later ages; 2.) Examine whether salivary
melatonin rhythms at 6-7 years mediate the association between CUF and sleep patterns/daytime fatigue
among children as assessed in Aim 1; 3.) Determine whether urinary fluoride levels are associated with
physiological sleep parameters and symptoms of sleep apnea among adolescents assessed at the Sleep-
Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center.
The proposed research represents the first study to examine whether early childhood fluoride exposure
predicts changes in childhood sleep patterns, daytime fatigue or melatonin rhythms. As such, it will advance
the field of pediatric sleep research by providing valuable information regarding a modifiable potential risk
factor for pediatric sleep disturbances. It will also help to inform titration of the appropriate dose of fluoride to
maximize dental health efficacy and minimize risk. I will conduct this study in a cost-effective manner by
levering available resources from a previously funded cohort. Lastly, I will translate the research and training in
this proposal to position myself as an independent investigator with a tenure track faculty position.
Public Health Relevance Statement
PROJECT NARRATIVE
Fluoride accumulates highly in the pineal gland, which is responsible for producing melatonin, the hormone
that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. The proposed research will examine whether childhood fluoride exposure
is associated with sleep patterns and fatigue as mediated by melatonin rhythms. This research has the
potential to advance our understanding of a modifiable potential risk factor for childhood sleep disturbances.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
CFDA Code
113
DUNS Number
969663814
UEI
NNFQH1JAPEP3
Project Start Date
12-September-2022
Project End Date
31-August-2025
Budget Start Date
01-September-2024
Budget End Date
31-August-2025
Project Funding Information for 2024
Total Funding
$248,747
Direct Costs
$163,113
Indirect Costs
$85,634
Year
Funding IC
FY Total Cost by IC
2024
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
$248,747
Year
Funding IC
FY Total Cost by IC
Sub Projects
No Sub Projects information available for 5R00ES031676-04
Publications
Publications are associated with projects, but cannot be identified with any particular year of the project or fiscal year of funding. This is due to the continuous and cumulative nature of knowledge generation across the life of a project and the sometimes long and variable publishing timeline. Similarly, for multi-component projects, publications are associated with the parent core project and not with individual sub-projects.
No Publications available for 5R00ES031676-04
Patents
No Patents information available for 5R00ES031676-04
Outcomes
The Project Outcomes shown here are displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Institutes of Health. NIH has not endorsed the content below.
No Outcomes available for 5R00ES031676-04
Clinical Studies
No Clinical Studies information available for 5R00ES031676-04
News and More
Related News Releases
No news release information available for 5R00ES031676-04
History
No Historical information available for 5R00ES031676-04
Similar Projects
No Similar Projects information available for 5R00ES031676-04