News
July 23, 2025
Forever Chemicals, Lasting Effects: Prenatal PFAS Exposure Shapes Baby Immunity
New research reveals that tiny amounts of PFAS—widely known as “forever chemicals”—cross the placenta and breast milk to alter infants’ developing immune systems, potentially leaving lasting imprints on their ability to fight disease.
Read More: Forever Chemicals, Lasting Effects: Prenatal PFAS Exposure Shapes Baby Immunity
May 2, 2024
What are PFAS? "Forever Chemicals" are Common and Dangerous
PFAS have been making headlines again this month after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced newly established regulations limiting the amount of these toxic chemicals that can be used in or around municipal water sources. It's a move that environmental scientists have been seeking for decades, but is just one of many they say are still needed.
Read More: What are PFAS? "Forever Chemicals" are Common and Dangerous
June 15, 2022
Developmental Role of Three Systems - Co-development of Gut Microbiome, Respiratory and Immune Systems
Co-development of Gut Microbiome, Respiratory and Immune Systems Directly Impact Baby's Development
A new multidisciplinary study conducted by Kristin Scheible and Andrew McDavid, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, has found that the co-development of three systems, the gut microbiome, respiratory system and immune system, is correlated with a baby's respiratory health, and an infant can have negative respiratory outcomes if the development of one of these systems is disrupted.
The study, “Aberrant newborn T cell and microbiota developmental trajectories predict respiratory compromise during infancy,” was published in iScience (Cell Press) and was co-authored by Kristin Scheible, M.D., associate professor in the departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology and Immunology, and Andrew McDavid, Ph.D., from the department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology.