Kelly Brunst , PHD

Kelly J. Brunst, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Environmental Health in the College of Medicine.  She earned her B.A. in Biology from Thomas More College (Crestview Hills, KY), her Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York, NY). Her transdisciplinary research platform focuses on studying the programming effects of social (e.g., maternal psychosocial stress, lifetime trauma, psychological distress) and chemical (e.g., traffic pollution, smoking, and fluoride) exposures on child health outcomes. Dr. Brunst applies omic-related methods (i.e., mitochondriomics and epigenomics) to her epidemilogical studies to identify biomarkers that can be used to predict children at increased risk for adverse outcomes as a result of environmental exposures. For several years, she has served as a member of the have also served as a member of the NIH/NIEHS Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetic (PACE) Consortium. Her research is truly transdiciplinary and includes collaborations between epidemiologists, biostatisticians, environmental scientists, toxicologists, clinical psychiatrists, developmental psychologists, radiologists, chemists, and dentists. Dr. Brunst is also engaged in community outreach and serves on executive committees for community organizations including the Appalachian Translational Research Network (ATRN). 

Bachelor's Degree: Thomas More College Cincinnati, OH, 2007 (Biology)

Doctoral Degree: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH , 2012 (Epidemiology)

Postdoctoral Fellow: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY , 2016 (Pediatric Environmental Health)

Dr. Brunst's transdisciplinary research platform focuses on studying the programming effects of social (e.g., maternal psychosocial stress, lifetime trauma, psychological distress) and chemical (e.g., traffic pollution, smoking, and fluoride) exposures on child health outcomes. She applies mitochondriomics and epigenomics to her epidemiological studies to identify biomarkers that can be used to predict children at increased risk for adverse outcomes. 

Grant: #R00ES024116 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Mitochondrial Markers of Pollution, Stress, and Neurobehavior Role:PI Active Type:Grant

Grant: #R00ES024116 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly 06-01-2017 -05-31-2020 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Mitochondrial Markers of Pollution, Stress, and Neurobehavior Role:PI $348,249.37 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #R03HD094236 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly; Martin, Vincent; Pinney, Susan; Ying, Jun 08-07-2018 -07-31-2020 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Headaches and Migraines: Pubertal Parameter and Hormone Predictors in Adolescent Girls Role:Collaborator $86,674.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #HHSN302201800207P Investigators:Brunst, Kelly 09-01-2018 -08-31-2019 National Human Genome Research Institute Sequencing in the Classroom Curriculum PIlot Project Role:PI $10,000.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #17215 / R33ES024717 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly; Dietrich, Kim 12-02-2018 -07-31-2021 University of Illinois at Chicago Validation and Demonstration of Point-Of-Care Sensor for Multi Metal Exposure Assessment Role:PI $50,638.00 Awarded Level:Institution of Higher Education

Grant: #3200002784-20-084/ R01ES026446 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly 09-01-2019 -08-31-2020 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Developmental Effects of Manganese Exposure in Rural Adolescents: The CARES Cohort Comes of Age Role:PI $135,440.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #3210001358-20-109 / R01ES026446 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly 09-01-2019 -08-31-2020 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Developmental Effects of Manganese Exposure in Rural Adolescents: The CARES Cohort Comes of Age Role:PI $34,607.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #R01ES031054 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly; Niu, Liang 07-01-2020 -04-30-2025 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Epigenetics, air pollution, and childhood mental health Role:PI $632,113.00 Active Type:Grant

Grant: #3200003258-21-024 / R24ES030904 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly 05-06-2020 -04-30-2025 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Retention, Maintenance and Enhancement of the Communities Actively Researching Exposure Study (CARES) Role:PI $23,947.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #T32ES010957 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly; Deka, Ranjan 07-01-2022 -06-30-2027 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Molecular Epidemiology in Children's Environmental Health Training Program (MECEH) Role:PI 716058.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #1R01ES036268-01 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly 04-01-2024 -03-31-2025 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Longitudinal Impact of Fluoride on Neurodevelopment and Neuroimaging Outcomes During Childhood and Adolescence in the United States and Mexico Role:PI 0.00 Hold Level:Federal

Grant: #1R01ES036268-01 Investigators:Brunst, Kelly 09-01-2024 -08-31-2029 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Longitudinal Impact of Fluoride on Neurodevelopment and Neuroimaging Outcomes During Childhood and Adolescence in the United States and Mexico Role:PI 855794.00 Hold Level:Federal

Peer Reviewed Publications

Adkins E.A.; Yolton K.; Strawn J.R.; Lippert F.; Ryan P.H.; Brunst K.J. (03-01-2022. ) Fluoride exposure during early adolescence and its association with internalizing symptoms.Environmental Research, , 204 , More Information

Brunst K.J.; Hsu H.H.L.; Zhang L.; Zhang X.; Carroll K.N.; Just A.; Coull B.A.; Kloog I.; Wright R.O.; Baccarelli A.A.; Wright R.J. (01-01-2022. ) Prenatal particulate matter exposure and mitochondrial mutational load at the maternal-fetal interfa.Mitochondrion, , 62 ,102-110 More Information

Adkins E.A.; Brunst K.J. (12-01-2021. ) Impacts of fluoride neurotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction on cognition and mental health: A li.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, , 18 (24 ) , More Information

Cowell W.; Brunst K.; Colicino E.; Zhang L.; Zhang X.; Bloomquist T.R.; Baccarelli A.A.; Wright R.J. (07-01-2021. ) Placental mitochondrial DNA mutational load and perinatal outcomes: Findings from a multi-ethnic pre.Mitochondrion, , 59 ,267-275 More Information

Sammallahti S.; Cortes Hidalgo A.P.; Tuominen S.; Malmberg A.; Mulder R.H.; Brunst K.J.; Alemany S.; McBride N.S.; Yousefi P.; Heiss J.A.; McRae N.; Page C.M.; Jin J.; Pesce G.; Caramaschi D.; Rifas-Shiman S.L.; Koen N.; Adams C.D.; Magnus M.C.; Baïz N.; Ratanatharathorn A.; Czamara D.; Håberg S.E.; Colicino E.; Baccarelli A.A.; Cardenas A.; DeMeo D.L.; Lawlor D.A.; Relton C.L.; Felix J.F.; van IJzendoorn M.H.; Bakermans-Kranenburg M.J.; Kajantie E.; Räikkönen K.; Sunyer J.; Sharp G.C.; Houtepen L.C.; Nohr E.A.; Sørensen T.I.A.; Téllez-Rojo M.M.; Wright R.O.; Annesi-Maesano I.; Wright J.; Hivert M.F.; Wright R.J.; Zar H.J.; Stein D.J.; London S.J.; Cecil C.A.M.; Tiemeier H.; Lahti J. (06-01-2021. ) Maternal anxiety during pregnancy and newborn epigenome-wide DNA methylation.Molecular Psychiatry, , 26 (6 ) ,1832-1845 More Information

Cecil K.M.; Brunst K.J.; Horowitz-Kraus T. (05-15-2021. ) Greater reading gain following intervention is associated with low magnetic resonance spectroscopy d.Brain Research, , 1759 , More Information

Brunst K.J.; Zhang L.; Zhang X.; Baccarelli A.A.; Bloomquist T.; Wright R.J. (03-15-2021. ) Associations Between Maternal Lifetime Stress and Placental Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in an Urban .Biological Psychiatry, , 89 (6 ) ,570-578 More Information

Campbell R.K.; Curtin P.; Bosquet Enlow M.; Brunst K.J.; Wright R.O.; Wright R.J. (11-01-2020. ) Disentangling Associations among Maternal Lifetime and Prenatal Stress, Psychological Functioning du.Health Equity, , 4 (1 ) ,489-499 More Information

Beckwith T.; Cecil K.; Altaye M.; Severs R.; Wolfe C.; Percy Z.; Maloney T.; Yolton K.; LeMasters G.; Brunst K.; Ryan P. (01-01-2020. ) Reduced gray matter volume and cortical thickness associated with traffic-related air pollution in a.PLoS ONE, , 15 (1 ) , More Information

Cowell W.J.; Brunst K.J.; Malin A.J.; Coull B.A.; Gennings C.; Kloog I.; Lipton L.; Wright R.O.; Enlow M.B.; Wright R.J. (10-01-2019. ) Prenatal exposure to PM2.5 and cardiac vagal tone during infancy: Findings fr.Environmental Health Perspectives, , 127 (10 ) , More Information

Brunst K.; Ryan P.; Altaye M.; Yolton K.; Maloney T.; Beckwith T.; LeMasters G.; Cecil K. (08-01-2019. ) Myo-inositol mediates the effects of traffic-related air pollution on generalized anxiety symptoms a.Environmental Research, , 175 ,71-78 More Information

Flom J.D.; Chiu Y.H.M.; Hsu H.H.L.; Devick K.L.; Brunst K.J.; Campbell R.; Enlow M.B.; Coull B.A.; Wright R.J. (12-01-2018. ) Maternal Lifetime Trauma and Birthweight: Effect Modification by In Utero Cortisol and Child Sex.Journal of Pediatrics, , 203 ,301-308 More Information

Horowitz-Kraus T.; Brunst K.J.; Cecil K.M. (11-23-2018. ) Children with dyslexia and typical readers: Sex-based choline differences revealed using proton magn.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, , 12 , More Information

Brunst K.J.; Tignor N.; Just A.; Liu Z.; Lin X.; Hacker M.R.; Bosquet Enlow M.; Wright R.O.; Wang P.; Baccarelli A.A.; Wright R.J. (06-03-2018. ) Cumulative lifetime maternal stress and epigenome-wide placental DNA methylation in the PRISM cohort.Epigenetics, , 13 (6 ) ,665-681 More Information

Lee A.G.; Le Grand B.; Hsu H.H.L.; Chiu Y.H.M.; Brennan K.J.; Bose S.; Rosa M.J.; Brunst K.J.; Kloog I.; Wilson A.; Schwartz J.; Morgan W.; Coull B.A.; Wright R.O.; Baccarelli A.A.; Wright R.J. (04-27-2018. ) Prenatal fine particulate exposure associated with reduced childhood lung function and nasal epithel.Respiratory Research, , 19 (1 ) , More Information

Brunst K.J.; Sanchez-Guerra M.; Chiu Y.H.M.; Wilson A.; Coull B.A.; Kloog I.; Schwartz J.; Brennan K.J.; Bosquet Enlow M.; Wright R.O.; Baccarelli A.A.; Wright R.J. (03-01-2018. ) Prenatal particulate matter exposure and mitochondrial dysfunction at the maternal-fetal interface: .Environment International, , 112 ,49-58 More Information

Felix J.F.; Joubert B.R.; Baccarelli A.A.; Sharp G.C.; Almqvist C.; Annesi-Maesano I.; Arshad H.; Baiz N.; Bakermans-Kranenburg M.J.; Bakulski K.M.; Binder E.B.; Bouchard L.; Breton C.V.; Brunekreef B.; Brunst K.J.; Burchard E.G.; Bustamante M.; Chatzi L.; Munthe-Kaas M.C.; Corpeleijn E.; Czamara D.; Dabelea D.; Smith G.D.; De Boever P.; Duijts L.; Dwyer T.; Eng C.; Eskenazi B.; Everson T.M.; Falahi F.; Fallin M.D.; Farchi S.; Fernandez M.F.; Gao L.; Gaunt T.R.; Ghantous A.; Gillman M.W.; Gonseth S.; Grote V.; Gruzieva O.; Håberg S.E.; Herceg Z.; Hivert M.F.; Holland N.; Holloway J.W.; Hoyo C.; Hu D.; Huang R.C.; Huen K.; Järvelin M.R.; Jima D.D.; Just A.C.; Karagas M.R.; Karlsson R.; Karmaus W.; Kechris K.J.; Kere J.; Kogevinas M.; Koletzko B.; Koppelman G.H.; Kupers L.K.; Ladd-Acosta C.; Lahti J.; Lambrechts N.; Langie S.A.S.; Lie R.T.; Liu A.H.; Magnus M.C.; Magnus P.; Maguire R.L.; Marsit C.J.; McArdle W.; Melen E.; Melton P.; Murphy S.K.; Nawrot T.S.; Nisticò L.; Nohr E.A.; Nordlund B.; Nystad W.; Oh S.S.; Oken E.; Page C.M.; Perron P.; Pershagen G.; Pizzi C.; Plusquin M.; Raikkonen K.; Reese S.E.; Reischl E.; Richiardi L.; Ring S.; Roy R.P.; Rzehak P.; Schoeters G.; Schwartz D.A.; Sebert S.; Snieder H.; Sørensen T.I.A.; Starling A.P. (02-01-2018. ) Cohort profile: Pregnancy and childhood epigenetics (PACE) consortium.International Journal of Epidemiology, , 47 (1 ) ,22-23u More Information

Brunst K.J.; Guerra M.S.; Gennings C.; Hacker M.; Jara C.; Bosquet Enlow M.; Wright R.O.; Baccarelli A.; Wright R.J. (12-01-2017. ) Maternal Lifetime Stress and Prenatal Psychological Functioning and Decreased Placental Mitochondria.American Journal of Epidemiology, , 186 (11 ) ,1227-1236 More Information

Lipton L.; Brunst K.; Kannan S.; Ni Y.; Ganguri H.; Wright R.; Bosquet Enlow M. (12-01-2017. ) Associations among prenatal stress, maternal antioxidant intakes in pregnancy, and child temperament.Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, , 8 (6 ) ,638-648 More Information

Bosquet Enlow M.; Devick K.L.; Brunst K.J.; Lipton L.R.; Coull B.A.; Wright R.J. (07-01-2017. ) Maternal Lifetime Trauma Exposure, Prenatal Cortisol, and Infant Negative Affectivity.Infancy, , 22 (4 ) ,492-513 More Information

De Carli M.M.; Baccarelli A.A.; Trevisi L.; Pantic I.; Brennan K.J.; Hacker M.R.; Loudon H.; Brunst K.J.; Wright R.O.; Wright R.J.; Just A.C. (03-01-2017. ) Epigenome-wide cross-tissue predictive modeling and comparison of cord blood and placental methylati.Epigenomics, , 9 (3 ) ,231-240 More Information

Brunst K.J.; Rosa M.J.; Jara C.; Lipton L.R.; Lee A.; Coull B.A.; Wright R.J. (01-01-2017. ) Impact of Maternal Lifetime Interpersonal Trauma on Children's Asthma: Mediation Through Maternal Ac.Psychosomatic Medicine, , 79 (1 ) ,91-100 More Information

Brunst K.J.; Kannan S.; Ni Y.M.; Gennings C.; Ganguri H.B.; Wright R.J. (02-01-2016. ) Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Estimating Micronutrient Intakes in an Urban US Sam.Maternal and Child Health Journal, , 20 (2 ) ,250-260 More Information

Brunst K.; Baccarelli A.; Wright R. (09-01-2015. ) Integrating mitochondriomics in children's environmental health.Journal of Applied Toxicology, , 35 (9 ) ,976-991 More Information

Brunst K.J.; Ryan P.H.; Brokamp C.; Bernstein D.; Reponen T.; Lockey J.; Khurana Hershey G.K.; Levin L.; Grinshpun S.A.; LeMasters G. (08-15-2015. ) Timing and duration of traffic-related air pollution exposure and the risk for childhood wheeze and .American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, , 192 (4 ) ,421-427 More Information

LeMasters G.; Levin L.; Bernstein D.I.; Lockey S.D.; Lockey J.E.; Burkle J.; Khurana Hershey G.K.; Brunst K.; Ryan P.H. (01-01-2015. ) Secondhand smoke and traffic exhaust confer opposing risks for asthma in normal and overweight child.Obesity, , 23 (1 ) ,32-36 More Information

Brunst K.J.; Wright R.O.; DiGioia K.; Enlow M.B.; Fernandez H.; Wright R.J.; Kannan S. (01-01-2014. ) Racial/ethnic and sociodemographic factors associated with micronutrient intakes and inadequacies am.Public Health Nutrition, , 17 (9 ) ,1960-1970 More Information

Wright R.J.; Brunst K.J. (04-01-2013. ) Programming of respiratory health in childhood: Influence of outdoor air pollution.Current Opinion in Pediatrics, , 25 (2 ) ,232-239 More Information

Brunst K.; Leung Y.; Ryan P.; Khurana Hershey G.; Levin L.; Ji H.; Lemasters G.; Ho S. (01-01-2013. ) Forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) hypermethylation is associated with diesel exhaust exposure and risk .Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, , 131 (2 ) , More Information

Brunst K.; Ryan P.; Lockey J.; Bernstein D.; Mckay R.; Khurana Hershey G.; Villareal M.; Biagini Myers J.; Levin L.; Burkle J.; Evans S.; Lemasters G. (08-01-2012. ) Unraveling the relationship between aeroallergen sensitization, gender, second-hand smoke exposure, .Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, , 23 (5 ) ,479-487 More Information

Haynes E.; Heckel P.; Ryan P.; Roda S.; Leung Y.; Sebastian K.; Succop P. (09-01-2010. ) Environmental manganese exposure in residents living near a ferromanganese refinery in Southeast Ohi.NeuroToxicology, , 31 (5 ) ,468-474 More Information

09-01-2012-08-01-2016 Postdoctoral Fellow, Pediatric Environmental Health, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, , New York, New York

Academic - 160 Panzeca Way
Cincinnati  Ohio, 45267
Phone: 513-558-1723
kelly.brunst@uc.edu