Arsenic, the Gut Microbiome, and Health: How tiny microbes affect and are affected by metal exposure
Official title: Arsenic, the Microbiome & Health Outcomes: Mechanisms to Methods of Intervention
Funded at Dartmouth College · NIH-11474212 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how arsenic exposure changes the gut microbiome in young children and how the microbiome, in turn, influences arsenic-related health risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project start | December 7, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| Award (this year) | $387,254 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES033988-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11474212 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants and young children (0–3 years) with exposure to arsenic and their mothers, particularly from cohorts similar to the New Hampshire Birth Cohort.
✕Less likely to help
Children without arsenic exposure or those outside the critical 0–3 year developmental window may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project looks at how arsenic exposure alters the gut microbiome, and how those microbial changes may shape health outcomes in early life. Building on prior findings in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort, the team will examine thousands of mother–infant pairs to understand sex-specific microbiome changes and how they relate to immune development and respiratory health. The work aims to identify mechanisms and potential intervention points to reduce arsenic-related health risks in children from birth to age 3. The investigators plan to analyze gut microbes, arsenic exposure levels, and early health outcomes to map the gut–immune–lung axis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to targeted strategies to protect or restore healthy gut microbes in arsenic-exposed children, reducing immune-related health problems.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests a link between arsenic exposure, gut microbiome changes, and immune outcomes, supporting the potential for meaningful progress.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth College
Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'toole, George a. — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: O'toole, George a.
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.