How early exposure to arsenic affects diabetes and gut bacteria in children
Official title: Early-life iAs exposure: diabetes and gut microbiome
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10939011 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being exposed to inorganic arsenic early in life might affect children's chances of developing diabetes and how it changes their gut bacteria, with the goal of finding ways to prevent diabetes caused by environmental toxins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2020 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $416,569 |
| NIH project number | 2P42ES031007-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10939011 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have been exposed to inorganic arsenic.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or have not been exposed to inorganic arsenic may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of early-life exposure to inorganic arsenic on the development of diabetes and changes in the gut microbiome in children. The study focuses on understanding how these exposures during critical developmental periods can lead to metabolic dysfunction. By examining both animal models and human cohorts, the researchers aim to uncover the mechanisms linking arsenic exposure to diabetes and explore potential microbiome-based interventions. The findings could provide insights into preventing diabetes related to environmental toxins in young children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing diabetes in children exposed to environmental toxins.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown a link between environmental toxins and diabetes, but this specific approach focusing on early-life exposure and the gut microbiome is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Kun — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Lu, Kun
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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.