STEEP Center: PFAS exposure, health effects, and environment
Official title: Sources, Transport, Exposure & Effects of PFAS (STEEP) Center - RENEWAL
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-11389402 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A center-led program will study how PFAS exposure affects children and communities, and develop better ways to detect, track, and reduce exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,282,278 |
| NIH project number | 5P42ES027706-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389402 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include children and families in PFAS-contaminated regions, pregnant people, and communities near affected sites who may benefit from improved exposure assessment and guidance.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not exposed to PFAS or those not in affected regions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This NIH P42 center focuses on PFAS exposure and its health impacts, especially in children. It brings together environmental science, chemistry, and epidemiology to understand how PFAS move through air, water, and bodies, and to create better tools for detecting and remediating contamination. The project also includes training and outreach to state agencies and communities to apply findings for protection and prevention. Researchers will use birth cohorts and public health data to link exposure with immunotoxicity and metabolic changes, aiming to inform policy and remediation strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to cleaner environments for children and better protection against PFAS-related health effects.
How similar studies have gone: Past STEEP work has established collaborative approaches and forecasting tools; this renewal aims to expand and improve upon proven methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lohmann, Rainer — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Lohmann, Rainer
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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PFAS Exposure and Health in Children Center (STEEP II)
A national research center is studying how PFAS chemicals move through the environment and affect children’s health, with a focus on immune and metabolic effects.
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STEEP Center: PFAS Transport, Exposure, Effects and Repair
A center-led effort to understand how PFAS exposure affects children and families, and to develop tools and strategies to reduce risk.
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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.