News

In a recent article published in Toxicological Sciences, HERCULES researchers demonstrate the use of high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) to reliably quantify exposures. Detection and measurement of both known and unknown chemicals are key to characterizing cumulative complex exposures. Although HRM has been well-established as a tool for distinguishing these exposures, quantification of chemical signatures under the platform […]

What are the areas of untapped potential in basic research? A new website—The Future Postponed—developed out of MIT shares case studies demonstrating the need for basic research across a wide range of disciplines. An independent advisory committee reviews and selects which case studies are highlighted. The Future Postponed serves as a platform to increase awareness […]

The Proctor Creek Collaborative Health Survey was funded in spring of 2014 as the first community-based pilot study for the HERCULES Center. The pilot project was a product of a strong collaboration between HERCULES investigator, Andrea Winquist, and multiple community partners including ECO-Action, Community Improvement Association, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, English Avenue Neighborhood Association and […]

In collaboration with The Conservation Fund, HERCULES’ partners have been working with the Proctor Creek communities. Partners include West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Community Improvement Association, Proctor Creek Stewardship Council, Eco Action, and many more working with Greening Youth Foundation in the workforce training component of this collaboration. A recent short video put together by The […]

In addition to offering a couple students the opportunity to participate in pilot project research, the HERCULES Center also connected students with some of our investigators to assist in working on specific projects within their broader environmental health research projects. Below are a couple highlights of student research over the past year.   Exposures to Multiple […]

Please consider going “fragrance free” for HERCULES events. Those suffering from chemical sensitivity may have adverse health reactions to products commonly used everyday such as scented air fresheners, scented toiletry items, perfumes, colognes, etc. These products can trigger asthma and migraines. We encourage everyone to be sensitive to the needs of these participants by refraining […]

Recent advances in high-throughput technology now allows measurement of the DNA methylome. Dr. Yan Sun, HERCULES investigator and year one pilot award recipient, discusses the value of methylome-wide association studies to look at connections of genes, environment and human diseases. In a recent paper “The Influences of Genetic and Environmental Factors on Methylome-Wide Association Studies […]

A workshop hosted by the HERCULES Systems Biology Core and Georgia Tech’s Integrative BioSystems Institute on May 27 and 28, 2015   Systems Biology is a field that addresses the dynamic interactions among components of living cells or organisms and their environments. Using techniques from mathematics, computer science and engineering, computational systems biology strives to […]

Environment-Wide Association Studies (EWAS) provide an untargeted and comprehensive approach for considering environmental factors and their involvement in complex health/disease traits. EWAS techniques are analogous to GWAS approaches and as an extension, layering GWAS and EWAS approaches offer a strategy to identify specific complex traits with larger and more relevant impacts on disease. An Environment-Wide Association Study (EWAS) […]

The future of environmental health and exposome-related research lies with current students. Their fresh perspectives and enthusiasm are invaluable to these projects and the advancement of the field. HERCULES offered students the opportunity to participate in pilot project research and was met with both an incredible interest and response to the work the Center is doing. Here […]