Air pollution and ALS: a big, multiomics look at risk and progression
Official title: RFA-TS-24-010: Ambient Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for ALS - Using a Multiomics Approach in a High-Quality Epidemiologic Study
Funded at Karolinska Institute · NIH-11379694 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Swedish study will explore whether air pollution and infections influence the risk and progression of ALS, using life-long health data and biological samples.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Karolinska Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Solna, Sweden) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $359,877 |
| NIH project number | 5R01TS000348-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379694 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People at risk for ALS or with ALS, particularly those in Sweden with access to the national health registers and ALS biospecimens, may be candidates for future participation.
✕Less likely to help
Current patients or at-risk individuals not in the registry or unable to contribute biospecimens may not directly benefit in the short term.
What this research studies
This project uses the Swedish ALS registry and national health records to examine how exposure to air pollution may relate to who gets ALS and how the disease progresses. It will look at protein changes related to oxidative stress and inflammation, immune responses, and the gut microbiome to uncover possible mechanisms. By combining environmental data with biospecimens, the study aims to identify potential targets for prevention and treatment. Participants would contribute data and samples from health records and linked registries if involved in future research phases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new prevention strategies and therapeutic targets for ALS related to air pollution exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests environmental factors like pollution may influence ALS risk, but this project aims to clarify mechanisms using multiomics.
Where this research is happening
-
Karolinska Institute
Solna, Sweden Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fang, Fang — Karolinska Institute
- Study coordinator: Fang, Fang
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.