How early-life metal exposure may change children's vaccine antibody responses
Early-life metal exposures, mitochondrial heteroplasmy, and child antibody response to vaccination
This project looks at whether metals children encounter before and after birth change how well vaccines make antibodies during childhood and adolescence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11166467 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child takes part, researchers will use data from the PROGRESS birth cohort in Mexico to measure exposures to arsenic, cadmium, manganese, and lead from teeth, blood, and urine collected during pregnancy and early childhood. They will measure vaccine-related antibody levels at ages 4, 6, 8, 10–11, and 13–15 years to see how immune memory develops over time. The team will also examine mitochondrial heteroplasmy (differences in mitochondrial DNA within cells) as a possible link between metal exposure and changes in immune response. The study follows the same children over many years to connect early exposures with later antibody outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are children from the PROGRESS cohort or similar birth cohorts who have early-life exposure records and can provide blood or other samples for antibody testing.
Not a fit: Adults, children without early-life exposure information, or people seeking immediate clinical treatment rather than research data are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could identify children at risk of weaker vaccine protection and guide policies or interventions to reduce harmful early-life metal exposures.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies have linked metals like lead and cadmium to weaker vaccine antibody responses, but evidence is limited and this long-term cohort work aims to clarify timing, mixtures, and mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colicino, Elena — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Colicino, Elena
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.