How early-life metal exposure may shape children's lung growth and mitochondrial DNA
Effect of Perinatal Exposure to Metals on Lung Function Trajectories and Mitochondrial DNA Heteroplasmy from Childhood to Adolescence
Looking at whether exposure to metals before birth and in infancy links to how children's lungs grow from childhood into 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-11503661 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You or your child would be followed from early life into the teenage years with periodic check-ins. The team will measure metal levels from samples taken around birth and in infancy and test lung function at multiple ages. They will also analyze mitochondrial DNA changes to see if those molecular signs connect metal exposure to lung growth differences. Researchers will look at mixtures of metals and different timing windows to find when exposures matter most.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people and their newborns/infants (and families willing to continue follow-up) who can provide samples and attend periodic lung testing through childhood and adolescence.
Not a fit: Adults whose exposures occurred long ago or people not willing or able to provide early-life samples and long-term follow-up are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify early-life metal exposures that put children at higher risk for poor lung development and point to times or markers for prevention or closer monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked prenatal metal exposure to later lung problems, but studying mixtures across time and connecting them to mitochondrial DNA changes over childhood is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosa, Maria Jose — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Rosa, Maria Jose
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.