Urban rat exposure and pediatric asthma

Project Summary/Abstract Research: Asthma is the most common chronic disease of children living in urban centers, and exposure to rat allergen can trigger asthma in children who are sensitized. The goal of this award is to evaluate the relationship between rat exposure and asthma severity in children using novel techniques to estimate rat exposure, including ecological studies of rat population dynamics and publicly available rat-related 311 complaint calls, around the home and school environment. Established cohorts of inner-city children enrolled in the School Inner-City Asthma Study (SICAS) and Environmental Assessment of Sleep in Youth (EASY) study (PI, Dr. Wanda Phipatanakul) will be used to study the impact of rat exposure on pediatric asthma severity. This study is unique and novel because it will be the first to evaluate the relationship between rat population dynamics on asthma severity. Results may lead to interventional trials designed to reduce commensal rodent abundance as a primary prevention measure to reduce exposure to the allergens they produce. Career Development: Dr. Marieke Rosenbaum is a veterinarian and public health scientist who seeks to integrate clinical research and veterinary medicine to design interventions that reduce the negative impact of urban peri-domestic wild animals on human health. Over the course of this award, Dr. Rosenbaum will gain important human clinical research skills, learn advanced statistics and modeling, and explore community engagement as the three pillars of her K08 training program. The proposed research and Dr. Rosenbaum’s career trajectory closely align with NIEHS 2018-2023 strategic themes 1 (Advance Environmental Health Science) and 2 (Promoting Translation – Data to Knowledge to Action) by opening a new line of transdisciplinary investigation about the urban environment, rat exposure, and pediatric asthma. Environment: Dr. Rosenbaum will be mentored by Dr. Phipatanakul, an expert in epidemiology, clinical trials, and clinical investigation in asthma and allergic diseases. Her team of advisors include Jon Runstadler (DVM, PhD), Jessica Leibler (DrPH, MS), and Janis Breeze (MPH), who together with the primary mentor have committed their time, resources, and expertise to facilitate Dr. Rosenbaum’s career development and successful completion of the proposed project. During this award period, Dr. Rosenbaum will complete course work and training at Tufts University, Boston University, and Harvard University, and she will be supported by the Tufts University Clinical Translational Science Institute, which offers career development training for junior faculty. The academic environment created by the mentor and institutions and their affiliates provides an optimal environment for learning and collaborating specific to the proposed research and training.