Environmental toxins and their effects on ovarian and heart health
Official title: Identifying critical mediators of ovarian and cardiovascular health
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11423959 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will explore how youth exposure to the environmental toxin TCDD may harm ovarian function and later heart health in females.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | April 10, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R00ES036311-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423959 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with a history of likely dioxin/TCDD exposure, particularly those with unexplained infertility or early cardiovascular disease, would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without ovaries or without a history of relevant environmental toxin exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project looks at how a common environmental contaminant called TCDD, when encountered during youth, may damage the ovaries and lead to heart problems later in life. The team will use laboratory models and single-cell sequencing to compare which cells and molecular pathways in the ovary and heart are affected. They will also examine whether disruption of the blood–follicle barrier explains infertility linked to TCDD exposure. By connecting ovarian changes to cardiac outcomes, the work aims to point to targets for future prevention or treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify biological targets to prevent or treat toxin-related infertility and heart disease in women.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked TCDD to reproductive and cardiac harm, but combining single-cell mapping of both ovary and heart and studying the blood–follicle barrier together is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kossack, Michelle E — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Kossack, Michelle E
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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.