TIES Project Kick-off Meeting Minutes

Dates: September 23-24, 2004

Venue : Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Cinvestav), Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508 Col San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360 México City, Mexico

Meeting Room : Sala de Juntas de la Jefatura del Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica

Project: United States Agency of International Development (USAID) – The Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development (ALO)- U.S.-Mexico Training, Internships, Exchanges and Scholarships (TIES) project entitled, “U.S.-Mexico Higher Education Partnership for Environmental Sciences and Toxicology”

Participants:
Dr. Mariano E. Cebrián García MD, Department of Toxicology, CINVESTAV (Mexican Host)
Dr. Betzabet Quintanilla Vega, Department of Toxicology, CINVESTAV
Dr. Patricia Ostrosky. Department of Medical Genomics and Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Biomedical Research. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM)
Dr. Fernando Díaz-Barriga; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosí (UASLP)
Dr. Gonzalo Gerardo García Vargas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED)
Dr. Raquel Goytia Acevedo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED)
Dr. Rogelio Vázquez González, Department of Applied Geophysics, Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada (CICESE)
Dr. Francisco J. Cervantes, Department of Water and Environmental Sciences, Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora (ITSON)
Dr. Sergio Revah; Department of Process Engineering, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana (UAM), Iztapalapa
Dr. Diana Meza; Department of Geology, Universidad de Sonora (USON)
Dr. Rogelio Recio, Faculty of Medicine of Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila at Torreon (UACT)
Dr. A. Jay Gandolfi (project director), Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Arizona
Dr. Jim A. Field (project coordinator), Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona
Dr. Clark Lantz, Department of Cell Biology And Anatomy, University of Arizona

PART I (Thursday, September 23rd)

Research Interests Partcipants: The meeting on Septemebr 23 rd was dedicated to 10-15 minute presentation of each participant to provide an overview of their research interest and indicate what they perceive to be the most important environmental and/or public health challenges.

Dr. Gonzalo Gerardo García Vargas (UJED) :
Main research interests: Toxicology of metals in the Lagunera Region in Mexico. Monitoring indicators of exposure (heme metabolites, oxidative stress, immunotoxicology). Specialization on problems in children (environmental pediatrics).
Main environmental/public health concerns: As, Pb, Cd and Mn contaminants; neurological and cognitive health effects.

Dr. Rogelio Recio (UACT):
Main research interests: Involved in setting up Masters in Public health. Main research is concerned with health effects of dioxin, PCB, benzene, SO 2 and O3.
Main environmental/public health concerns: Dioxin, PCB, benzene contaminants; cancer, degenerative diseases, endocrine disruption (reproductive toxicology) as health effects.

Dr. Diana Meza (USON):
Main research interests: Analytical chemistry, measurement of heavy metals, arsenic, fluoride and sulfur in groundwater (drinking water) in Sonora; stratification of heavy metals in mine tailings. Also measurements of As in urine samples.
Main environmental/public health concerns: Heavy metals, arsenic and fluoride as contaminants; water scarcity and mining as cause of environmental problems; high urine levels of arsenic as health issue.

Dr. Segio Revah (UAM):
Main research interests: Environmental science and technology of the sulfur cycle. Oxidation of sulfur in bioreactors. Treatment of sulfur and hydrocarbons in polluted gas with biofiltration reactors. Biodegradation of MTBE. Use of gaseous hydrocarbons to support cometabolism during soil bioremediation.
Main environmental/public health concerns: H2S, CS2 and VOCs as contaminants; VOC exposure in work place as health issue.

Dr. Betzabet Quintilla (CINVESTAV):
Main research interests: reviewed research areas of the entire Department of Toxicology: 1) xenobiotic metabolism (cytochrome P450); 2) metal immunotoxicology; 3) oxidative stress due to metals/metalloids; 4) Air pollution cytotoxicity/oxidative stress; 5) molecular regulation cytochrome p450; 6) male reproductive toxicology; 7) endocrine disruption; 8) cytogenetics/immunotoxicology; 9).
Main environmental/public health concerns: Pb, As, Hg, solvents, pesticides, PAH as contaminants and reproductive toxicology and genotoxicity as health issues.

Dr. Francisco J. Cervantes (ITSON):
Main research interests: biodegradation of azo dyes, BTEX and chlorinated solvents. Simultaneous removal of nitrogen and sulfur in biological treatment systems.
Main environmental/public health concerns: Azo dyes and pesticides as environmental contaminants; pig manure and water scarcity as environmental issues; pathogens in recycled water as major health issue.

Dr. Rogelio Vázquez González (CICESE):
Main research interests: groundwater hydrology, exploratory geophysics of aquifers, salinization of groundwater, improved localization of landfills; characterization of contaminated plumes.
Main environmental/public health concerns: contamination of aquifers with landfill leachate; rules and policies for localization of landfills as environmental issue.

Dr. Fernando Díaz-Barriga (UASLP):
Main research interests: Research group is involved in various aspects of Environmental Pediatrics. Research topics discussed are DDT metabolism in humans; Early markers for heavy metal exposure (genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, neurophysiological analyses); attention deficiency caused by pesticides.
Main environmental/public health concerns: persistant organic pollutants (POPs) such as organochlorine pesticides and heavy metal mixtures as the main contaminants of concern. Mining activity and landfill leachates as important environmental issues; estimating health risks to children as major health issue

Dr. Jay Gandolfi (University of Arizona):
Main research interests: Dr. Gandolfi outlined major research areas and capabilities of the two research centers he is involved in: NIH Environmental Health Center and NIEHS – Hazardous Waste Program (Superfund). Capabilities of NIH Environmental Health Center include: proteonomics, genomics (gene array, polymorphism), imaging; chemical synthesis, bioinformatics. Dr. Gandolfi’s research includes effect of low level As exposure to bladder; works with tissue slices. Oxidative stress markers in relation to exposure to As(III) and MMA(III). Some research with human subjects in Sonora, MX using urinary arsenic metabolites as profiles.
Main environmental/public health concerns: water scarcity as main environmental issues.

Dr. Jim Field ( University of Arizona):
Main research interests: Bioremediation of chlorinated solvents; Microbial Biotransformation of Arsenic; Sulfate Reduction for the Immobilization of Heavy Metals; Bioremediation of perchlorate.
Main environmental/public health concerns : 1) Mining and Metal Processing Impacted Sites causing exposure to heavy metals and metalloids; 2) Uncontrolled Dumping of Hazardous Chemicals causing contamination of aquifers/groundwater with solvents and increased cancer risk due to hazardous chemicals in drinking water; 3) Pesticides causing contamination contamination of aquifers/groundwater.

Synopsis of Environmental and Health Problems
Environmental Contaminants:
As, Se, Pb, Cu, Ni, Hg, F -, SO 4 2-, dioxin, PCB, benzene, organochlorine pesticides, organophosphate persticides, particulates, pathogens

Health Problems:
Neurotoxicity; Immunotoxicity; Heme metabolites; Cancer (genotoxicity); Degenerative diseases, Endocrine Disruption; Reproductive Toxicology; Asthma, Leukemia

Environmental Issues:
Landfill leachates, water scarcity, contaminated aquifers, uncontrolled dumping, mining and metal processing industries, salinization of water.

PART II (Friday, September 24th)

Overview of funding situation: Dr. Jay Gandolfi provided a brief overview of the funding status for the Outreach to Mexico program. The TIES grant provides $300,000 for three years, Dr. Gandolfi has also submitted a Federal Request to Congress for $1,000,000. The request has passed the initial committees. The NIEHS superfund renewal if approved will also provide approximately $100,000/y to the outreach program for 3 to 5 years (depending on duration renewal if NIEHS superfund program is approved).

Human Subjects Assurance Numbers: In order for the University of Arizona to conduct collaborative research with Mexican Universities and Institutes with Human Subjects, the Mexican partners need to obtain a U.S. Federal Human Subjects Assurance Number. Dr. Gandolfi explained the procedure as well as provided a contact person at the University of Arizona who can help with the process. The Mexican partners were eager to obtain the assurance number (directly after the meeting Dr. Gonzalo Gerardo García Vargas (UJED) obtained the number for his university).

Overview TIES project: Dr. J. A. Field provided an overview of the TIES project. The main objective of the TIES project is to establish a higher education partnership between the University of Arizona and Mexican Universities and Institutes in the area of Environmental Science and Toxicology. The partnership is intended to foster collaboration between University of Arizona and Mexican Scientists and improve the Capacity Building of Mexican Graduate Students. The 4 main activities of the project activities are: 1) fellowships to Mexican students to conduct research at the University of Arizona; 2) 6 short courses (5 in different location in Mexico, one in Arizona); 3) provide appropriate text books and other educational tools on line; 4) support partnership meetings.

Presently, two fellowships have already been initiated. Juan Carlos Moreno Sierra (ITSON); Blenda del Pilar Machado Estrada (UASLP).

The first Short Course took place in Mexico City on Septemeber 22nd and 23rd, 2004 at CINVESTAV. The course was entitled , “Recent advances in toxiciology” and was given by 4 University of Arizona Professors (Dr. W. Klimecki; Dr. Clark Lantz; Dr. Jay Gandolfi and Dr. J. A. Field). The course was atended by 70 graduate students (each received a diploma).

The original TIES project was a collaboration between 8 Mexican Universities and Institutes, at the meeting a new Mexican partner was welcomed into the partnership making the consortium of Mexican now total 9 partners. The new partner is Dr. Rogelio Recio, Faculty of Medicine of Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila at Torreon (UACT).

Fellowships: The participants of the meeting took time to discuss how to modify the fellowships to better serve the Mexican situation and plan for future fellowships. Presently the TIES project consists of 4 two-semester fellowships/year in which each fellow participates for two semesters in the University of Arizona graduate program. Many Mexican students would like to have an international experience but cannot afford to leave Mexico for 9 months due to family or employment obligations but could for shorter visits of 3-4 months. The Mexican partners requested to make approximately half of the fellowships available in a new format as follows: students conduct research at the University of Arizona (UA) with a UA Scientist for one semester and subsequently return to their home institution and continue with the research for one semester or more under long-distance supervision of the UA Scientist. The new format also enables the project to expand the opportunities to more Mexican students and helps establish more permanent “ties” between UA scientists and Mexican universities. Some students prefer the original fellowship format, thus we will retain two long-term visit fellowships per year. Under the new scenario, each year there would be two nine-month fellowships, and five three-four month fellowships. This request for the change was officially submitted to the ALO office and was approved at the beginning of November.

It was unanimously decided at the meeting in Mexico City that the main criterion for the selection of fellows will be the prospect of a long-term collaboration between the participating UA scientists and the home department of the Mexican student.

For the remainder of 2004 funding year (last until April 2005) the following Universities and Institutes have requested fellowships (1 semester) under the new format: UNAM; CINVESTAV; UJED ; UAM and UACT.

For the funding year 2005, the following requests were made: UNAM (one semester); USON (two semester); CISESE (two semester); UASLP (one semester); UJED (two semester).

Travel Expenses: Travel expenses for Mexican Scientists were originally subcontracted to CINVESTAV. Based on discussions ate the meeting it was decided that they should be administered directly by the University of Arizona.

Planning for Future Short Courses: It was unanimously decided that the next short course will take place at CISESE in Ensenada, Mexico to be held in February 2005. The course will encompass Environmental Science and Bioremediation. A new feature in the course in Ensenada is that Mexican scientist will also be active in providing classes aside from just University of Arizona Scientists. Dr. Sergio Revah and Dr. Patricia Ostrosky were suggested as a possible lecturers from Mexico City. The next meeting thereafter is scheduled for May 2005 to hosted by UACT and UJED in Torreon/Gomez Palacio (twin cities). The topic will be toxicity of metals and pesticides. Thereafter possibly Sonora will be the venue of the next short course to be hosted by ITSON and USON.

Rogelio Recio also is organizing a seminar on Pb in Torreon in December, Dr. Raina Maier from the University of Arizona has already accepted an invitation to be a guest speaker at that seminar.

Research Collaboration: Partners discussed common areas of research collaboration. The goal is to find topics on resolving environmental/health problems in which sites with similar problems can be found in both Arizona and Mexico. Some collaborative research ideas that were suggested included: Mechanisms of diabetes caused by arsenic (Klimecki/Gandolfi – Ostrosky/Cebtain); Bioremediation of metals at mining impacted sites (Díaz-Barriga – Maier/Field).

Support from Mexico: A short discussion took place in order to determine the best strategy to obtain matching funds from Mexico. It was suggested that if Federal Request is awarded than the Mexican Partners will submit a similar matching request to the Mexican Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT). A similar request could also be made to the Mexican Ministry of Education. Municiplaties may also be interested in supporting research that helps resolve problems in their region (e.g. Torreon and Pb in dust).

It was also noted that CONACyT will soon start a program supporting short international visits of Mexican scientists/students and this could be a source of funding to bolster the number of one semester research visits.

Dr. Fernando Diaz Barriga suggested that a binational programmatic approach should be proposed to CONACyT. At the meeting it was agreed that Dr. Diaz Barriga and Dr. Cebrian will write down their ideas about the programmatic approach.

Headquarters Binational Center: A new building presently under construction at the University of Arizona has space allocated to house the main office of the Mexico-US Binational Center for Environmental Science and Technology.