HEPA filters to improve indoor air in rural Alaska Native homes
Official title: The effect of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters on high particulate rural Alaska homes
Funded at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium · NIH-11355403 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-based study will test whether portable HEPA air filters can improve indoor air quality and respiratory health in high-particulate homes of Alaska Native and American Indian residents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Anchorage, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $135,630 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM152302-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11355403 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Alaska Native and American Indian residents living in rural Alaska with high indoor particulate matter, including homes with wood stoves or smokers.
✕Less likely to help
Homes with other dominant air quality issues not addressed by HEPA filtration may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project will place HEPA filtration units in rural Alaska homes with high indoor particulate matter, including homes with wood stoves or smokers. Researchers will monitor indoor air quality and track respiratory health outcomes over time to see if filtration reduces pollutants. The study is designed with community partners to ensure culturally appropriate methods and feasible implementation in Arctic living environments. Results could guide practical steps to improve IAQ and reduce respiratory disease risk in these communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could have cleaner indoor air and potentially fewer respiratory problems.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows HEPA filters reduce indoor particulates, but effectiveness in high-particulate homes with smoking or wood stoves requires evaluation.
Where this research is happening
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Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Anchorage, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dobson, Jennifer Dawn — Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
- Study coordinator: Dobson, Jennifer Dawn
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.