How air pollution changes molecules linked to heart and lung inflammation
Identifying Multidimensional Omics Profiles Associated with Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Responses to Chronic and Acute Air Pollution Exposure (Project 2) for AIRHEALTH Study
This project looks for molecular signals in blood that connect short- and long-term air pollution exposure to inflammation in people with or at risk for lung and heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169795 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze blood samples from three well-characterized groups of people who experienced varying levels of air pollution exposure to find patterns in multiple kinds of molecular data (multi-omics). They will focus on inflammation pathways tied to the pro-inflammatory protein IL-1β and use systems-biology methods to map how those pathways respond to acute and chronic pollution. Project 2 combines its findings with lab work from the other project teams to form testable hypotheses about the molecular circuitry driving lung and heart inflammation. The goal is to pinpoint specific molecular signatures that explain how pollution triggers harmful immune responses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with or at risk for chronic lung disease (like asthma or COPD) or cardiovascular disease, and people who live in areas with significant air pollution or who can provide blood samples for research.
Not a fit: People who do not have pollution-related lung or heart conditions, those needing immediate medical treatment, or those unwilling to provide biosamples are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal blood biomarkers and molecular targets that help identify people at risk and guide new treatments to reduce pollution-related lung and heart inflammation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked IL-1β to pollution-related inflammation and blocking IL-1β has reduced cardiovascular events in some trials, but applying multi-omics and systems-biology approaches to map these pathways is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kasowski, Maya — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Kasowski, Maya
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.