How environmental pollution affects immune responses and vaccine effectiveness in children
Official title: Environmental mixtures, immune function, and vaccine antibody response in children
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11054360 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how air pollution affects children's immune systems and how well vaccines work for them, aiming to help kids in polluted areas get better protection from vaccines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career 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 start | February 4, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $126,985 |
| NIH project number | 1K99ES036168-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11054360 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are exposed to varying levels of air pollution.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not children or who live in areas with low levels of air pollution may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to environmental pollutants impacts the immune system and the effectiveness of vaccines in children. By analyzing data from a long-term cohort study in Mexico City, the research aims to understand the relationship between air pollution and antibody responses to vaccines. The project includes a variety of training and mentorship activities to develop the skills necessary for the principal investigator to lead future studies in this critical area of public health. The findings could provide insights into how to improve vaccine responses in children living in polluted environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved vaccine strategies for children exposed to environmental pollutants, enhancing their immune responses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that environmental factors can significantly influence immune responses, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: He, Mike Zhongyu — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: He, Mike Zhongyu
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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.