Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11394803 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A center in Detroit is testing how exposure to common air and soil pollutants from landfills and polluted sites may affect pregnancy and baby health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,505,524 |
| NIH project number | 5P42ES030991-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394803 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals and families in urban areas with known VOC exposure, particularly in Detroit.
✕Less likely to help
If you are not exposed to VOCs or are not seeking pregnancy-related health information, direct benefits may be limited.
What this research studies
This grant funds a collaboration in Detroit to study how volatile organic compounds from landfills and Superfund sites might trigger inflammation during pregnancy and impact preterm birth and related health outcomes. The team will examine exposure pathways, measure biomarkers, and develop strategies to prevent exposures, using integrated environmental science, engineering, and biomedical approaches. Residents and communities in post-industrial urban areas could benefit from clearer guidance and interventions based on the findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better prevention of adverse birth outcomes related to environmental exposures and inform policy and community protections.
How similar studies have gone: There is growing evidence linking VOC exposure to adverse pregnancy outcomes, but this project aims to integrate environmental science with clinical implications in a specific city.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Runge-Morris, Melissa a — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Runge-Morris, Melissa 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.