Blood chemical markers of smoking exposure across different ethnic groups

Untargeted Adductomics to Characterize Ethnic Differences in the Exposome of Smokers

['FUNDING_P01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · NIH-11180290

This project looks at chemicals attached to blood proteins to find differences in smoking exposure among people from different ethnic backgrounds.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_P01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11180290 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Researchers collect blood samples from smokers and use an untargeted 'adductomics' approach to find chemicals stuck to hemoglobin that reflect lifetime exposures. They compare these exposure patterns across ethnic groups while accounting for lifestyle factors like diet and alcohol. Advanced laboratory chemical scanning and bioinformatics are used to spot and identify unexpected exposure markers. The team aims to connect exposure differences to the higher lung cancer rates seen in some groups.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are current or former cigarette smokers—especially African American and Native Hawaiian individuals—willing to provide blood samples and information about smoking and lifestyle.

Not a fit: People who have never smoked or whose health problems are unrelated to tobacco exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help explain why some ethnic groups have higher smoking-related lung cancer and guide better prevention, screening, or tailored counseling.

How similar studies have performed: Targeted biomarker studies have linked some blood adducts to smoking and cancer risk, but untargeted adductomics is a newer approach that is less proven for explaining ethnic disparities.

Where this research is happening

MINNEAPOLIS, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.