Air pollution and heart & metabolic health

Environmental Exposure and Cardiometabolic Disease

NIH-funded research University of Louisville · NIH-11112446

Researchers are looking at how breathing volatile chemicals from contaminated sites may harm adults' heart health and increase diabetes risk.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Louisville NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Louisville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11112446 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This center brings together scientists who use animal studies, lab tests, and studies of people living near contaminated sites to find signs that chemicals hurt heart and metabolic health. Investigators measure air levels of volatile organic chemicals and test blood and other samples for sensitive biological markers using advanced mass spectrometry. The team also develops low-cost devices to monitor pollution and models pollutant atmospheres for controlled exposure experiments. Their combined approach aims to link real-world exposures to early signs of cardiometabolic injury and to guide prevention and cleanup efforts.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are adults who live near Superfund or other hazardous-waste sites, or adults with or at risk for heart disease or diabetes who can provide health information and biological samples.

Not a fit: People with no history of exposure to contaminated sites or those seeking immediate clinical treatment for heart disease are unlikely to receive direct medical benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect early pollution-related heart and metabolic damage and lead to better monitoring, prevention, and cleanup strategies to protect affected communities.

How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and human studies have linked air pollutants to heart and metabolic problems, and earlier center work has identified candidate exposure biomarkers that this project will build on.

Where this research is happening

Louisville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Adult-Onset Diabetes MellitusCardiac DiseasesCardiac Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.