Early-life exposure to organophosphate esters and adolescent heart and metabolic health
Official title: Early life organophosphate ester (OPE) exposures and adiposity and cardiometabolic health during adolescence
Funded at University of Nevada Las Vegas · NIH-11168893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research follows how exposure to common chemicals in early life could shape obesity and heart-health risks during adolescence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nevada Las Vegas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Las Vegas, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $481,874 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES033200-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants include pregnant individuals and children/teens within the study’s age range who have varying levels of early-life exposure to organophosphate esters.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants with no relation to exposure pathways or with unrelated health issues may not directly benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
The project examines how tiny amounts of organophosphate esters that many families encounter as flame retardants and plasticizers may influence obesity and cardiometabolic health from childhood into adolescence. It uses human-focused data from pregnant women and adolescents to explore links between early exposures, obesity risk, inflammation, and metabolic function. Researchers will look at factors like thyroid and sex hormone disruption, inflammation, and lipid/metabolic pathways to understand potential mechanisms. The study aims to connect environmental exposure with measurable health outcomes in teens who were exposed early in life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform strategies to reduce exposure risks and improve prevention of obesity and metabolic disorders in youths.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have suggested associations between environmental chemicals and obesity/metabolic outcomes, but long-term adolescent data are limited and this study aims to clarify those links.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Las Vegas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vuong, Ann — University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Study coordinator: Vuong, Ann
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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.