Arsenic and uranium effects on heart and metabolic health in Native American communities
Health Effects of Metals in Native American Communities: A Longitudinal Multi-omics Study
This project follows Native American families to see whether past exposure to arsenic and uranium links to higher chances of heart disease and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124909 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be part of a group of about 1,300 people whose health records and samples from the Strong Heart Study are being linked across decades. You'll be asked to provide or allow use of urine and blood samples and to take part in a new visit planned for 2022–23. Researchers will measure arsenic and uranium in urine, use multi-omics testing to look for molecular changes, and compare results by sex, region, and nutritional status. The goal is to understand long-term effects of metal exposure and the biological pathways that might explain higher rates of diabetes and heart disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Native American adults and their family members from communities included in the Strong Heart Study who can provide samples and attend a study visit.
Not a fit: People who are not from the targeted Native American communities or who have no history of arsenic or uranium exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could clarify whether metal exposure raises diabetes and heart disease risk and point to ways to prevent or reduce that risk in affected communities.
How similar studies have performed: Prior Strong Heart Study research linked long-term arsenic exposure to cardiometabolic disease, while uranium effects are less well studied and the combined multi-omics lifespan approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Navas-Acien, Ana — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Navas-Acien, Ana
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 below.