Schedule

All times Central. Tap a session to see speakers and talks.

• 9:15–9:50 a.m.Registration & BreakfastProgram begins at 9:50 a.m.
• 9:50–11:15 a.m.Directors’ PresentationsHermann Hall Auditorium

  10-minute presentations + 5-minute Q&A

  1. 9:50–10:00Welcome & Session OverviewCheryl WalkerDirector | BCM
  2. 10:00–10:15Career Development Program (T32 opportunity)Fernanda Laezza | UTMB  ·  Daniel A. Gorelick | BCM
  3. 10:15–10:30Community Engagement CoreAbiodun Oluyomi | BCM
  4. 10:30–10:45PIPELINE Facility CoreCristian Coarfa | BCM
  5. 10:45–11:00Pilot Project ProgramCasey Wright | UTMB
  6. 11:00–11:15Translational Research Support CoreElaine Symanski | BCM
• 11:15–11:35 a.m.Coffee Break
• 11:35 a.m.–12:40 p.m.GC-CPEH Environmental Health Research HighlightsHermann Hall Auditorium

  15-minute presentations + 5-minute Q&A

  1. 11:35–11:40Session IntroductionFernanda LaezzaCo-Director | UTMB
  2. 11:40–12:00Placental Micro- and Nanoplastic Burden is Associated with Spatial Immune–Vascular Endotypes in Term and Preterm BirthEnrico R. Barrozo | BCM
  3. 12:00–12:20Leveraging Human-Relevant Novel Approach Methods to Investigate Environmental Heat-Induced Labor PathwaysLauren Richardson | UTMB
  4. 12:20–12:40Establishing the role of alveolar macrophages in telomere dysfunction-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisErgun Sahin | BCM
• 12:45–1:45 p.m.Working Lunch: Thematic Focus Group MeetingsLevy Conference Room

  • GE²Genome and Epigenome: Environment InteractionsLead: Cheryl Walker, BCM
  • MIHEDMechanisms and Interventions in Human Environmental DiseaseLead: Elaine Symanski, BCM
  • CEETCurrent and Emergent Environmental ThreatsLead: Stephen Linder, UTHealth
• 1:50–3:10 p.m.Advancing Environmental Health Research Using GC-CPEH Facility CoresHermann Hall Auditorium

  10-minute presentations + 5-minute Q&A

  1. 1:50–1:55Session IntroductionElaine SymanskiDeputy Director | BCM
  2. 1:55–2:10Metabolomics Technologies: Advancing Research and Clinical ApplicationsNagireddy Putluri | BCM
  3. 2:10–2:25From Exposure to Mechanism: Translational Metabolic Research Unit Resources for Environmental Health ResearchFida Bacha | BCM
  4. 2:25–2:40Using zebrafish for environmental health researchDaniel A. Gorelick | BCM
  5. 2:40–2:55Everything, All the Time, All at Once: A PFAS StoryWilliam Russell | UTMB
  6. 2:55–3:10From Biospecimens to Biomarkers: Leveraging the Biofluids Repository Core for Environmental Health ResearchCamila Hochman-Mendez, PhD | BCM
• 3:15–4:15 p.m.Elferink Award for Excellence in Exploratory ResearchInauguralHermann Hall Auditorium

  The inaugural award honors the late Kees Elferink, PhD, former Director of the GC-CPEH and the Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine at UTMB, and recognizes outstanding research by GC-CPEH Pilot Project awardees.

  20-minute presentations + 5-minute Q&A

  1. 3:15–3:25Introduction and Award AnnouncementCasey Wright | UTMB
  2. 3:25–3:50Impacts of neighborhood adversity on pregnancy outcomesKristina Whitworth | BCM
  3. 3:50–4:15Precision targeting of the gut microbiome in environmental exposure models for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disordersShelly A. Buffington | BCM
• 4:15–5:00 p.m.Elferink Award ReceptionLevy Conference Room · All Center members welcome

Agenda subject to change. Final agenda dated October 13, 2026.

Getting there

Past retreats

2025 Retreat2024 Renewal Celebration (PDF)2023 Retreat2022 Retreat