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Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT)

Award Number: P42ES017198
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/12/2010
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2026

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Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) - PROJECT SUMMARY Evidence suggests that exposure to Superfund chemicals contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), including preterm birth (PTB). Rates of PTB and infant mortality in Puerto Rico (PR) are among the highest of all US states and territories. There are 18 Superfund sites in PR, and evidence of contamination of the drinking water is extensive. Moreover, extreme weather events (hurricanes, flooding) may result in elevated exposures to Superfund chemicals. The PROTECT center has brought together researchers from Northeastern University, the University of Puerto Rico, University of Georgia, and the University of Michigan to provide much needed understanding of the relationship and the mechanisms by which exposure to suspect chemicals contribute to APOs, and to develop new methods to reduce risk of exposure in PR and beyond. To do this, PROTECT uses a source-to-outcome structure, integrating epidemiological (Project 1), toxicological (Project 2), fate and transport (Project 3), and remediation (Project 4) studies, a unified sampling infrastructure, a centralized indexed data repository, and a sophisticated data management system. Since its inception in 2010, PROTECT has built detailed and extensive data sets on environmental conditions and prenatal conditions of 1457 pregnant mothers (exposure, socioeconomic and health data–close to 3000 data points per participant), yielding a cohort of 1210 live births in northern PR. In the renewal, PROTECT will recruit and follow an additional 1000 study participants, yielding a cohort of 800+ live births for an ultimate total cohort of 2000+ completed live births. PROTECT has documented significant contamination of northern PR drinking water and has found compelling preliminary epidemiologic and mechanistic toxicology associations between Superfund chemicals and APOs. PROTECT research has focused on chlorinated volatile organic compounds and phthalates and their role in PTB. The PROTECT renewal will broaden its scope, employing a data-driven approach to study and reduce the impact of exposure to mixtures of suspect chemicals from Superfund sites in karst regions on APOs in Puerto Rico’s underserved, highly-exposed population. Target chemicals will be expanded to include metals, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We will investigate the impacts of extreme weather events on contaminant transport and exposure, and new water treatment technologies will be developed for portable and robust water treatment systems. The PROTECT renewal will also focus on oxidative stress as an underlying biological pathway by which contaminant exposure can lead to APOs. New statistical methods and data mining, machine learning, and visualization tools will be developed to allow PROTECT researchers to analyze our datasets. PROTECT will employ innovative approaches to engage and educate the community, involve study participants, report- back data, and communicate with stakeholders. A broad suite of training and professional activities will be provided to trainees, individually tailored to the trainees’ needs and goals.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	14	4/10/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $2,114,573 )
2024	2024	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	14	1/31/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,991,165
2024	2024	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	002	14	9/25/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$129,415
2024	2019	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	9	10/1/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$6,007
														Subtotal = $2,114,573

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $2,167,773 )
2023	2023	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	13	5/26/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2023	2023	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	13	1/23/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,152,873
2023	2023	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	002	13	6/1/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$14,900
														Subtotal = $2,167,773

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $2,152,873 )
2022	2022	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	12	7/7/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2022	2022	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	12	1/31/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,152,873
														Subtotal = $2,152,873

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $2,182,975 )
2021	2021	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	006	11	9/13/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$2
2021	2021	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	004	11	7/19/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$15,100
2021	2021	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	007	11	9/14/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2021	2021	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	11	1/27/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,152,873
2021	2021	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	005	11	7/20/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$15,000
2021	2020	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	003	10	2/14/2021	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,103,721
2021	2020	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	10	11/26/2020	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2021	2019	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	002	9	2/14/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$1,103,721
														Subtotal = $2,182,975

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $2,414,074 )
2020	2020	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	10	3/18/2020	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2020	2020	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	10	3/16/2020	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,414,074
														Subtotal = $2,414,074

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $2,956,552 )
2019	2019	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	9	5/21/2019	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$10,800
2019	2019	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	004	9	9/18/2019	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2019	2019	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	003	9	9/11/2019	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$280,397
2019	2019	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	002	9	5/31/2019	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$2,665,355
2019	2018	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	9	12/7/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $2,956,552

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $2,703,005 )
2018	2018	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	9	3/23/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,682,205
2018	2018	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	002	9	5/3/2018	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$10,800
2018	2018	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	8	11/16/2017	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$10,000
														Subtotal = $2,703,005

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $3,132,535 )
2017	2017	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	004	8	8/29/2017	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2017	2017	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	8	5/8/2017	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$10,800
2017	2017	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	8	3/29/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,407,714
2017	2017	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	003	8	8/25/2017	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$500,000
2017	2017	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	002	8	6/23/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$214,021
														Subtotal = $3,132,535

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $3,497,263 )
2016	2016	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVENUE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	7	6/14/2016	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$10,800
2016	2016	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVENUE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	7	3/25/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,636,463
2016	2016	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVENUE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	002	7	7/13/2016	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$850,000
														Subtotal = $3,497,263

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $2,814,191 )
2015	2015	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVENUE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	002	6	5/1/2015	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$10,800
2015	2015	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVENUE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	001	6	3/30/2015	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$83,910
2015	2015	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVENUE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	003	6	5/18/2015	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$49,500
2015	2015	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVENUE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	NIEHS Superfund Hazardous Substances_Basic Research and Education	000	6	3/12/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,669,981
														Subtotal = $2,814,191

Grand Total All Awards = $38,585,087

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Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT)

Award Number: P42ES017198

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/12/2010

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2026

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