CEED is recognized for its mechanistic studies defining the role of environmental exposures in disease pathogenesis. The Core works closely with other Research Cores to incorporate biological response indicators or biomarkers into clinical and population studies to mitigate exposures and disease. By engaging the Community Engagement Core, this Core is able to translate findings to vulnerable populations, diseased cohorts, and interested stakeholders. Using model systems, human studies, and emerging science and technologies to identify vulnerable populations and developmental stages, they study uptake and metabolism as a function of genetic and epigenetic background and life stage, and develops biological response indicators that link exposures to disease.

The Core has four mechanistic themes that cut across disease endpoints:

1. Influence of age and development on toxicity
2. Transport and metabolism of toxicants
3. Cellular injury; inflammation, and repair
4. Epigenetic and genetic mechanisms in toxicity and pathogenesis