Action Science Initiative (ASI), a program within Million Marker Research Institute (MMRI), conducts rapid interventions and larger, longer-term studies that look at the impacts of environmental pollutants on reproductive health. 

 

Study results are shared with the goal of promoting meaningful regulatory and behavioral change.

ASI’s goals are to facilitate:

Hands-on science 

Conduct rapid low-cost interventions and larger cohort studies that investigate the impact of reducing harmful environmental exposures on reproductive health.  

Targeted communication

Recruit participants to serve as “Action Science Ambassadors” to share their intervention experience and the impacts of exposure reduction on their reproductive health.  

Actionable strategy

Share study results with regulators, legislators, and industry partners with the goal of decreasing toxic exposures and promoting reproductive health.

Funding

ASI has received multi-year support from financial sector philanthropy.  We are seeking additional funding to extend our program and engage in further interventions and larger studies that align with our goals.

Here are some of the studies on environmental exposures and reproductive health that we are conducting, or hoping to conduct, with your help:

Pesticides in foods and time to pregnancy: We will measure levels of pesticides and pesticide additives at the beginning, middle, and end of study in the urine of couples trying to conceive. We will report back on individual chemical levels, educate participants on how to reduce these exposures and look at metabolite levels of pesticides, reproductive hormones, semen quality and time to pregnancy.           

Plastic in fertility labs and IVF success: This intervention (currently underway) is replacing plastic materials currently used in fertility labs with safer alternatives, measuring plastic-associated chemicals in reagents, semen samples, follicular fluid, and embryos and comparing embryo quality and birth rates using glass and plastic.

PFAS In clothing:  PFAS is found in a variety of products, from clothing to cookware, and they confer moisture and stain resistant properties. However, they can impact fertility, metabolism, and immune response. We plan to work with participants on clothing and household exposures to reduce PFAS exposure and to measure levels in blood, and responses in terms of health effects.

We welcome your interest and support! Please let us know if one of these studies interests you. 

And we’d love to hear your ideas for other studies that look at how reducing environmental exposures can improve reproductive health. We’re always looking for new ways to reduce exposure, and improve health outcomes!

Leadership: 

Shanna H. Swan, PhD, Reproductive Epidemiologist, is Director of ASI and Adjunct Prof in Ob/Gyn at University of California San Francisco. 

Dr. Swan has spent her career investigating threats posed by chemicals to our health and environment. (shanna@mmresearch.org)

 

Renee Salmon, is Project Coordinator of ASI. Renee works to support and coordinate logistics for the ASI program. (renee@mmresearch.org)

ASI partners with Jenna Hua, PhD, Executive Director of Million Marker Research Institute and CEO of Million Marker.