Project Summary
The ELEMENT study (Early Life Exposures in Mexico to ENvironmental Toxicants) is a multi-institutional and international research effort that has initiated and followed three birth cohorts in Mexico City for more than 30 years. During this period, a vast international research team has participated in the different phases of the project, developed more than ten specific projects, initiated and followed up on three distinct cohorts of mother / child pairs, competed and obtained various grants from US and Mexican agencies, published the study's findings in journals of high international impact, formed a large number of master's and doctoral students on both sides of the border and, above all, contributed to relevant public policy discussions.
The ELEMENT Story
The first ELEMENT cohort began in 1994 with support from an inter-institutional collaboration among Harvard University, the Center for Population Health Research of the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico, the American British Cowdray Medical Center and the National Institute of Perinatology of Mexico.
ELEMENT was founded by Dr. Mauricio Hernández Ávila, researcher and current Director of Economic and Social Benefits of the Mexican Social Security Institute (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, IMSS), and Dr. Howard Hu, a physician (internist and occupational/environmental medicine specialist) and environmental epidemiologist.
Study population
The mother–child pairs of study participants were recruited over a series of years:
Cohort 1, 1994-1997
Cohort 2, 1997-2000
Cohort 3, 2001-2005
This first cohort sought to study the effects of lead on maternal and child health. However, since then, the study has expanded its area of study in order to understand the effects on health and neurodevelopment derived from exposure to other environmental toxins, exploring how these effects are modified by nutrition, social environment and genetic susceptibility.
Getting Started with ELEMENT Data
Our study has been collecting data on our participants for over two decades, which offers researchers a unique opportunity to conduct longitudinal studies on a variety of research topics. We welcome new investigators interested in using our data.
1) If you are interested in our data, we have a searchable database where you can look at what data we have available.
2) When you have developed a framework for a project, you can submit a project proposal form. After you have submitted the form, your project will be evaluated by our PIs and if approved it will be given a project number and you will be able to request data from our database manager.
Please Note: If you are at the University of Michigan and are not on the ELEMENT IRB you will need to be added prior to receiving data. If you are at another University or organization, we will need to create a Data Use Agreement (DUA) between your University or organization and the University of Michigan prior to sharing data.
If you have any questions regarding this process, reach out to our Research Data Coordinator.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ELEMENT, VISIT OUR WEBSITE
Funding and Publication Information
Leadership
Co-principal investigators
- Karen Peterson (University of Michigan)
- Mara Téllez-Rojo (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (INSP)