How breathing mustard or chlorine gas harms blood vessels and the heart over time
Vascular injury and repair predict divergent late onset cardiovascular morbidities after chlorine and sulfur mustard exposure
This project compares how inhaling sulfur mustard versus chlorine gas damages blood vessels and can lead to long-term heart and lung problems in exposed people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162407 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you were exposed to these chemicals or are worried about past exposure, the researchers are comparing sulfur mustard and chlorine to understand why they cause different long-term effects. They will track blood vessel injury, clotting, blood pressure, and heart function over time using laboratory tests, tissue studies, and measures of inflammation and calcium handling. The team will look for blood or tissue markers and repair pathways that predict delayed problems like pulmonary hypertension and heart dysfunction. Findings could help doctors identify survivors at risk and point to new treatment targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who were exposed to sulfur mustard or chlorine gas, or survivors with late-onset lung or cardiovascular symptoms such as pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure, or heart dysfunction, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without exposure to these chemical agents or whose heart or lung conditions have unrelated causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify markers and mechanisms that help prevent or treat delayed lung and heart disease after mustard or chlorine inhalation.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has documented acute clotting and lung injury after high-dose exposures, but studying delayed vascular injury and progressive cardiovascular disease after lower-dose sulfur mustard is a less-explored, relatively novel area.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Veress, Livia Agnes — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Veress, Livia Agnes
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.