The Exposure Signatures Facility Core (ESFC) measures toxicants and the biological consequences of exposure to toxicants for individuals and in real-world samples from our environment. The goal is to integrate measurements of the amount of toxicant exposure with measurements of gene expression, protein abundance or signaling molecule status that indicate the impact of exposure in the individual. The integration of exposure data and exposure signatures that are determined by the biological response to the toxicant, inform investigators about the origin(s) of environmentally-linked diseases.

The ESFC is a collaborative effort of six analytical laboratories that each contribute unique capabilities to identifying and quantifying toxicants and biological responses to toxicant exposure. High-performance omics technologies including epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses are most frequently requested by CURES Center investigators and form the base for the services offered by the ESFC.  With investigators increasingly focused on questions regarding the interaction of environmental exposure and the physiological response to chemical and non-chemical stressors we have expanded our analytical capabilities to include protein and DNA adducts, small molecule toxicants and metabolites, cellular profiling, cytokines and lipids. Our combined laboratories offer some of the most advanced analytical capabilities available for targeted and untargeted analysis of the exposome and identification of exposure signatures. Although we focus on the common matrices of blood, plasma and urine, we can work with any biological or environmental sample matrix. Because few investigators are completely familiar with the full scope and power of the services and technologies available through the ESFC, we are available to consult with investigators when they are planning a project. The ESFC continues to work with investigators once data are obtained.  The complete ESFC package provides investigators with planning, advanced analytical technology, expert technical assistance and informatics for interpretation of the results.

ESFC Co-Leaders

Douglas Ruden, Ph.D.    
IEHS, Director of Epigenomics, C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, MCL, (WSU)

Paul Stemmer, Ph.D.
IEHS, Director of Proteomics Core Facility, EMM, (WSU)

The ESFC provides analytical services for Genomics, Proteomics, Toxicants, Metabolites, Lipids, Cytokines, Metals and Flow Cytometry. If you are interested in accessing these services, please click below.