The Integral Charitable Foundation Research Idea Award was established to support graduate students in environmental health science. Fourth-year PhD student Brianna Ames was selected as a recipient of this award for her research evaluating the effects of the environmental metal cadmium on placental immunity in mice. The goal of her research is to investigate the relationship between Cd and the innate immune cells, such as macrophages, in the placenta and elucidate how functional consequences of these interactions may lead to pregnancy complications and fetal growth restriction. These funds will be used to support the costs of ex vivo  experiments and research supplies.