Detecting how air pollutants affect children's lungs
Project 2
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY · NIH-11126699
This project develops fast lab tools to understand how common hazardous air chemicals might harm young children's airways.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (COLLEGE STATION, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11126699 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will build rapid lab approaches to characterize how volatile organic compounds (VOCs) common at contaminated sites affect pediatric airway health. They will screen about 20 priority VOCs using a human airway cell model grown at an air–liquid interface to better mimic the developing lung. The team will study extracellular vesicle (EV) signaling as a possible way these chemicals change airway cells and will include atmospheric chemistry expertise to test real-world mixtures. The work aims to connect specific exposures with asthma-related changes while considering age and population differences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children aged 0–11 with asthma or who live near contaminated sites and are at risk from air pollution would be most relevant if the project collects human samples or enrolls participants in follow-up work.
Not a fit: Adults without airway disease or people whose health concerns are unrelated to inhaled pollutants are unlikely to benefit directly from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tools could help identify hazardous air chemicals faster and guide actions to protect children from exposures that raise asthma risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies have linked some VOCs to airway injury and extracellular vesicles are an emerging mechanism, but combining pediatric-focused airway models with real-world VOC mixtures is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
COLLEGE STATION, UNITED STATES
- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY — COLLEGE STATION, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JOHNSON, NATALIE M — TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: JOHNSON, NATALIE M
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 below.