Effects of phthalate exposure on telomeres in unborn babies
Official title: Impact of Phthalate Exposure on Telomere Biology in Utero
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11064770 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how chemicals called phthalates, which are found in many everyday products, might affect the health of babies by changing the length of protective parts of their DNA, and it’s for parents who want to understand how these chemicals could impact their child's health as they grow up.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 3, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $359,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES035760-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064770 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals and their newborns, particularly those with known exposure to phthalates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or whose children are older than 8 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to phthalates, chemicals found in many everyday products, affects telomere biology in fetuses. It aims to understand whether these chemicals can shorten telomeres in the placenta and newborns, potentially impacting health throughout life. The study will measure telomere length and related biological markers in umbilical cord blood and follow-up samples from children around age 8. By analyzing these samples, researchers hope to uncover the long-term effects of prenatal phthalate exposure on telomere dynamics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding of how prenatal exposures affect long-term health and inform guidelines to reduce harmful exposures during pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that prenatal exposures can have lasting effects on health, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cowell, Whitney — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Cowell, Whitney
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.