Genetic factors shaping insecticide responses to improve human risk assessment
Official title: Identifying the genetic determinants of insecticide response variation to advance human risk assessment
Funded at Florida Institute of Technology · NIH-11360999 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how genetic differences affect how insects and human cells respond to insecticides, with the aim of better predicting human risks from exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Melbourne, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $439,974 |
| NIH project number | 1R15ES038678-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360999 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are individuals or patient populations whose genetic backgrounds may influence susceptibility to chemical exposures, including those involved in toxicology risk assessment.
✕Less likely to help
Direct clinical benefit to patients is not the primary aim; the study focuses on genetic and cellular models to inform risk.
What this research studies
This project uses tiny worms and human cell cultures to find genes and biological pathways that change how people might respond to insecticides used for disease control. By linking genetic variation to responses to a pesticide mix, the study hopes to improve risk assessments for diverse human populations. The approach combines affordable, high-throughput genetics in C. elegans with experiments in human cells to reveal conserved mechanisms. findings could inform safer and more effective use of insecticides in public health programs. The work is conducted at Florida Tech under the direction of Timothy Crombie and runs from 2026 to 2029.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could improve how we evaluate chemical risks to people with different genetic backgrounds, leading to safer, more tailored insecticide strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in model organisms and human cell systems supports using genetic approaches to understand variable chemical responses, with this project extending those concepts to insecticides.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida Institute of Technology
Melbourne, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crombie, Timothy — Florida Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Crombie, Timothy
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.