Prenatal PCB exposure and lasting effects on children's brain and behavior
PCB Epigenomic Brain & Behavior Lasting Effects Study (PEBBLES)
This project looks at whether chemical exposures called PCBs during pregnancy change placental and fetal biology in ways that might help explain why boys are more often diagnosed with autism or ADHD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306337 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers compare placentas and newborn blood from pregnancies with measured PCB levels and follow the children's development to see links with autism and ADHD. They also run matching experiments in mice exposed before birth so they can compare molecular changes in placenta and brain across sexes. Using DNA methylation and gene expression analyses, the team looks for sex-specific patterns that could explain male-biased behavioral outcomes. The work combines human samples from a pregnancy cohort with laboratory models to find biological signals that might point to risk markers or mechanisms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be pregnant people and their newborns enrolled in pregnancy cohorts (especially those with measured PCB exposure or a family history of autism/ADHD) who can contribute placentas and cord blood samples.
Not a fit: People with established autism or ADHD who were not exposed to PCBs prenatally or who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this prenatal exposure research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological markers or pathways tied to prenatal PCB exposure that help prevent or reduce autism and ADHD risk, especially in boys.
How similar studies have performed: Previous analyses from the MARBLES pregnancy cohort and matching mouse experiments have found sex-specific epigenetic signatures linked to prenatal PCB exposure, but applying these findings to prevention or treatment is still novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lasalle, Janine M — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Lasalle, Janine M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.