How early-life metal exposure may shape children's sleep through tiny blood particles
Metal Mixtures, MicroRNAs and Metabolomics in Extracellular Vesicles, and Early-life Programming of Childhood Sleep Patterns: A Longitudinal Study
This project looks at whether metal exposure before and after birth changes sleep patterns in children by altering tiny particles in the blood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11378304 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use the PROGRESS birth cohort from Mexico City, which includes banked baby teeth and blood samples and repeated sleep measurements from ages 4–12. They will map metal exposures week-by-week from the second trimester through the first year after birth by analyzing growth layers in teeth, and track sleep using wearable actigraphy at multiple childhood ages. The team will isolate extracellular vesicles (tiny particles in the blood) and profile their microRNAs and metabolites to identify molecular signals that might link metal mixtures to sleep problems. Combining precise exposure timing, objective sleep tracking, and molecular profiling aims to reveal when and how early exposures can affect sleep during childhood.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children enrolled in the PROGRESS Mexico City birth cohort who have banked baby teeth and blood samples and who have prior or planned actigraphy sleep data from ages 4–12.
Not a fit: Children or adults who were not part of the PROGRESS cohort, who lack stored teeth or blood samples, or who cannot provide sleep-monitoring data are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific early-life exposures and molecular markers that help prevent or better manage childhood sleep problems.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have linked neurotoxic metals to sleep disruption, but human evidence is limited and the teeth-based exposure timing plus extracellular vesicle molecular profiling approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kupsco, Allison — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kupsco, Allison
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.