Developing methods to eliminate harmful PFAS chemicals from water
Official title: Research Project 4: PFAS Mineralization in Wastewater, Recycled Water, and Water Treatment Residuals
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-10939229 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new ways to get rid of harmful PFAS chemicals in water so that communities can have cleaner drinking water and safer water for reuse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 24, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $257,875 |
| NIH project number | 1P42ES036506-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10939229 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit include individuals living in areas with known PFAS contamination in their water supply.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in areas affected by PFAS contamination may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating effective technologies to destroy PFAS contaminants in water, particularly in the context of wastewater reuse and groundwater recharge. The project aims to improve existing water treatment methods that currently only transfer PFAS waste rather than eliminate it. By exploring biological, chemical, and thermal techniques, the research seeks to provide permanent solutions to PFAS contamination, ensuring safer water for communities. Patients and residents in affected areas may benefit from cleaner drinking water as a result of this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer drinking water by permanently eliminating PFAS contaminants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing technologies for contaminant removal, but this approach aims to provide a novel solution by focusing on destruction rather than mere removal.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccurry, Daniel L — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Mccurry, Daniel L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
RNA dysregulation in a rare childhood brain disorder (PCH1b)
Researchers are studying a rare genetic brain disease in young children to understand how RNA processing goes wrong and leads to damage in the cerebellum and brainstem.
-
Studying how diverse signals come from similar molecules at glutamatergic synapses
A project at a university explores how synapses in the brain create different signals from a shared set of molecules, using a fruit-fly model to understand how this could relate to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
-
How brain chemicals may influence tau clumps in Alzheimer’s disease
A study from USC explores how certain brain chemicals might influence the clumping of tau protein related to Alzheimer’s disease, aiming to identify factors that could affect disease progression.
-
GLP-1 medicines and brain health: real-world clues about dementia risk
A nationwide study will follow adults 21 and older using GLP-1 medicines to see how these drugs relate to memory, thinking, and dementia risk in real life.
-
Male pesticide exposure and reproductive health through epigenetics
This project looks at how a man’s exposure to pesticides might affect his fertility and the health of his future children through changes in DNA.
-
Global effort to harmonize fMRI findings in psychiatry
A large, international effort will standardize how brain MRI data are collected and analyzed in people with various mental health conditions to improve consistency and discovery.
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.