Creating a system to mimic military burn pit emissions for research
Official title: Validation of a military burn pit surrogate generator and aerosol exposure system
Funded at West Virginia University · NIH-11061392 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a special machine to mimic the smoke from military burn pits to help us understand how it might affect veterans' health, especially issues like memory problems and heart or lung conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | West Virginia University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morgantown, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $190,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21ES034942-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061392 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans who have been exposed to burn pits and are experiencing chronic health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to military burn pits or do not have chronic multisymptom illness may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and validate a generator that can replicate the emissions from military burn pits, which have been linked to chronic health issues in veterans. By using this generator, researchers will be able to study the effects of these emissions on health, particularly focusing on conditions like cognitive impairments and cardiopulmonary issues. The project will involve optimizing the generator's parameters to ensure it accurately reflects the complex combustion emissions veterans may have been exposed to. This work is crucial for understanding the mechanisms behind chronic multisymptom illness in veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment options for veterans suffering from chronic multisymptom illness related to burn pit exposure.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of creating a burn pit emission generator is innovative, similar studies have successfully explored the health impacts of environmental exposures, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
West Virginia University
Morgantown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nurkiewicz, Timothy R — West Virginia University
- Study coordinator: Nurkiewicz, Timothy R
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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.