Could vaping increase abdominal aortic aneurysm risk across generations
Official title: E-cigarettes Epigenetically Augment Transgenerational Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Funded at Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research · NIH-11332766 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether parents' vaping or nicotine exposure can cause biological changes that make their children more likely to develop abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $355,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL179076-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332766 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a family history of AAA, or current/recent e-cigarette or tobacco use would be most relevant for related clinical follow-up or future participation.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without AAA risk factors or without personal or family exposure to tobacco or e-cigarettes may be less likely to see direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers expose parent animals to nicotine or e-cigarette vapor and then follow their offspring to see if aneurysms form earlier or grow faster. They analyze blood and tissue for epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility, with special attention to imprinted genes that can transmit effects across generations. The team uses aortic imaging, pathology, and genome-wide assays to link parental exposure to disease in descendants. Results will be compared with existing human data to gauge relevance to people who vape or have a history of smoking.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how vaping raises AAA risk across generations and point to biomarkers or new ways to prevent or treat AAA.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown nicotine and e-cigarette vapor can worsen experimental AAA, while transgenerational epigenetic effects are a newer finding that this project will explore further.
Where this research is happening
-
Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
Palo Alto, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spin, Joshua M — Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
- Study coordinator: Spin, Joshua M
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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.