Wayne State University has been awarded a $3,082,404 grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate how environmental factors influence male fertility. The five-year grant supports research led by Richard Pilsner, Ph.D., who holds the Robert J. Sokol, M.D., Endowed Chair of Molecular Obstetrics and Gynecology at the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, and is a faculty member in the Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at Wayne State. Susan Sumner, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina’s School of Pharmacology, is the co-principal investigator for this project.
The research will focus on phthalates, a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonly found in plastics and personal care products. These substances are prevalent environmental contaminants linked to reduced sperm quality, impaired embryo development, and extended time to pregnancy.
Dr. Pilsner highlights the study’s objectives: “Our goal is to provide predictive information for reproductive success. By identifying metabolomic patterns crucial for successful reproduction, we hope to intervene and assist couples struggling with conception. Our preliminary findings suggest that preconception environmental health is a significant predictor of reproductive outcomes.”
The research aims to establish correlations between preconception urinary phthalate metabolite levels and seminal plasma metabolomics. It will also examine how seminal plasma metabolites relate to reproductive outcomes and replicate these findings in a separate cohort. The anticipated advancements could enhance clinical assessments of male fertility and pave the way for developing interventions to address male infertility.
Ezemenari M. Obasi, Ph.D., Vice President for Research & Innovation at Wayne State University, underscores the importance of the study: “Understanding how environmental factors affect health is crucial. Drs. Pilsner and Sumner’s research is poised to foster healthier and more sustainable environments, which will improve reproductive health and more. I am eager to see the significant discoveries their work will yield.”
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