GenX and PFAS health tracking in the Cape Fear River region
Extending and Maintaining the GenX Exposure Study
Keeping a long-term health tracking effort for people in the Cape Fear River Basin to watch for health effects linked to GenX and other PFAS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248346 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and other residents recruited from the lower Cape Fear River region have already provided blood samples and health information to measure PFAS levels and related clinical tests like lipids and thyroid hormones. The project will strengthen the team that coordinates the study, improve how samples and data are managed, and expand community outreach so people stay involved. Over the next five years the study will continue active follow-up, invite participants (ages 6 and older) to provide periodic blood samples and health updates, and share timely results with impacted communities. Community groups and local NGOs will help keep people informed and connected to the project.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents of the lower Cape Fear River region (including New Hanover and Brunswick counties, Fayetteville, and Pittsboro) who are age 6 or older and willing to provide follow-up blood samples and health information.
Not a fit: People who do not live in the affected Cape Fear River area or who cannot provide follow-up samples or health information are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could give local residents clearer information about whether GenX and other PFAS are linked to measurable health changes and help guide local health and water-protection decisions.
How similar studies have performed: Other community-based PFAS exposure cohorts have previously linked PFAS levels to changes in cholesterol and thyroid measures, so this long-term tracking approach has precedent.
Where this research is happening
Raleigh, United States
- North Carolina State University Raleigh — Raleigh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoppin, Jane — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Hoppin, Jane
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 below.