The overall objective of the proposed collaborative research projects is to fill specific gaps in our knowledge related to how in utero, early postnatal and pubertal environmental exposures impact the development of the mammary gland at the cellular molecular, organ and population level to influence future breast cancer risk.

Overall Project Goals:
1. This project is to determine environmental stressors in young girls that cause breast cancer to fill specific gaps in our knowledge related to how in utero, early postnatal, and pubertal environmental exposures impact the development of the mammary gland at the cellular, molecular, organ and population level to influence future breast cancer risk.

2. Furthermore, it is critically important that the design of the research projects be responsive to community based, faith based, and advocacy organizations that are concerned with breast cancer.

3. Finally, it is also important to develop and implement strategies to translate the scientific findings of the research into information for the public and policy makers.