Jose Cedeno Laurent
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute
Rutgers University School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey
www.rutgerscarelab.com
memo.cedeno@rutgers.edu
Fellowship Project: A mechanistic basis for the short-term exposure effects of UFP on cognitive function
Dr. José Guillermo (Memo) Cedeño Laurent is an Assistant Professor at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute at Rutgers University. As Director of the Climate Adaptive and Restorative Environments (CARE) Lab, Dr. Cedeño Laurent’s scientific and professional goal is to contribute to the creation of data-driven solutions in the built environment that helps us address climate change and social environmental injustice. Dr. Cedeño Laurent has focused his research on advancing the understanding of mechanisms by which climate changed-related environmental exposures impact health, productivity, and safety. He has leveraged the data collection potential of novel exposure assessment methods in intervention-based, quasi-experimental studies and strengthened the evidence linking energy efficiency opportunities in buildings to public health benefits. He has documented the negative impacts of indoor heat and indoor pollution exposures on cognitive function and developed ecologic momentary assessment tools to conduct prospective observational studies that combine environmental sensors and wearable devices.
Cedeño Laurent received a Doctor of Science degree in environmental health from the Harvard School of Public Health, a Master of Science degree in energy engineering from Aachen University in Germany, and a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Monterrey Tech in Mexico.
This study examines how short-term exposure to ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) affects cognitive function, specifically in domains such as attention and memory. Unlike previous human studies that have focused on PM2.5 exposure in typical work environments, this research targets individuals in high-risk occupations and investigates the potential for UFP to cause systemic inflammation and neuropathological changes. Recent findings suggest even brief exposure to UFP can impair memory and learning, with these particles remaining longer in the brain than previously thought, indicating possible extended neurotoxicity. The project proposes an intervention trial to assess whether a two-week reduction in UFP exposure can decrease inflammation markers and improve cognitive function. The goal is to understand the mechanisms by which UFP affects the brain, ultimately informing strategies to protect human health and enhance safety and productivity in occupational settings.
