USC Keck School of Medicine receives $10M to decode PFAS health risks amid exposure crisis

The University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine has announced a $10 million award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to support PFAS “forever chemical” research and disease prevention efforts in Los Angeles, California. Led by physician-scientist Vaia Lida Chatzi, the project will examine how PFAS exposure contributes to obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and related metabolic disorders. Researchers will analyze data from more than 50,000 people, study human tissue models, and work with affected Southern California communities to develop practical exposure-reduction strategies. Collaborators include the Silent Spring Institute in Newton, Massachusetts. The initiative aims to translate mounting PFAS evidence into actionable public health tools and prevention strategies.