Research
There are currently no research projects that are enrolling through the Lead Clinic. However, the physicians in the clinic collaborate with and work closely with renowned lead researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, the Children's Environmental Health Center and the University of Cincinnati (including Bruce Lanphear, MD, and Kim N. Dietrich, PhD).
The Children's Environmental Health Center at Cincinnati Children's is closely aligned with the Lead Clinic and was established in 1999 to promote health and prevent disease by conducting research on environmental antecedents of diseases that originate in childhood, especially residential hazards (including lead). In 2001 the Center was awarded a NIEHS and EPA funded, five million dollar center grant to pursue five projects focused on the linkage of exposures to prevalent environmental toxicants with neurobehavioral outcomes. The projects include an ongoing Cincinnati Longitudinal Study in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, a new cohort study of expectant 400 mothers, and a cross-sectional study of 200 children and have the following goals:
- Identify and define causes of developmental disorders, behavioral problems, growth retardation and hearing loss due to environmental toxicants
- Develop and validate biomarkers for in utero exposures and environmental monitoring methods for exposure and risk characterization
- Use rigorous epidemiologic methods to test the safety and efficacy of interventions to reduce exposures to prevalent environmental toxicants
- Identify adverse effects of lead exposure on social functions, delinquent behaviors and incarceration, conduct disorders and features consistent with ADHD in early adulthood
- Identify adverse effects of lead on brain functioning using state-of-the-art technology
- Assist community members to identify and, ultimately, protect their children from adverse effects linked with environmental toxicants
For medical emergencies please call your primary care provider, the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222, or 911.
