Household air pollution and child DNA changes tied to later lung health
Official title: Effects of Early Life Exposure to Household Air Pollution on DNA Methylation and Respiratory Disease in Guatemalan Children from the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) Trial
Funded at University of Georgia · NIH-11509226 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in Guatemalan children looks at how early exposure to smoky kitchen fuel changes DNA and could influence respiratory health as they grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Georgia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $168,452 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL163256-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11509226 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and caregivers in settings with household air pollution, especially those enrolled in or comparable to the HAPIN trial.
✕Less likely to help
Children without exposure to household air pollution or those not followed long enough to observe respiratory changes.
What this research studies
This project follows children from birth through early childhood to see if breathing in smoke from solid fuels in the home affects DNA methylation and respiratory outcomes. It leverages data from the HAPIN trial, using a randomized stove/fuel change to create a clear comparison between exposed and less-exposed children. Researchers will examine early life exposure windows, track lung health, and analyze DNA patterns that can relate to future COPD risk. The study emphasizes meaningful, long-term health insights for kids growing up in environments with household air pollution.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform cleaner cooking interventions and early-life strategies to reduce future respiratory disease risk in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous attempts show that exposure reduction can lower pollutants and may influence health; this study extends that to DNA changes and long-term outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Georgia
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccracken, John Patrick — University of Georgia
- Study coordinator: Mccracken, John Patrick
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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.