How exposure to arsenic before conception affects diabetes in offspring
Preconception iAs exposure: diabetes and epigenetic inheritance
This study is looking at how parents being exposed to inorganic arsenic before having kids might affect their children's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and it aims to understand how this happens through changes in genes and diet.
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 ID | NIH-10939012 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) on the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in offspring when parents are exposed before conception. Using genetically diverse humanized mice that mimic human metabolism of arsenic, the study aims to identify critical exposure windows and the resulting epigenetic changes in parental germ cells. The research will explore how these changes may lead to sex-specific diabetic traits in the next generations, influenced by the parents' genetic backgrounds and dietary factors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals planning to conceive who may have been exposed to arsenic or live in areas with known arsenic contamination.
Not a fit: Patients who are not planning to conceive or who have no history of arsenic exposure may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for type 2 diabetes linked to environmental exposures.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have indicated a link between arsenic exposure and diabetes, but this research aims to explore novel mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance, making it a unique approach.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pardo-Manuel de Villena, Fernando — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Pardo-Manuel de Villena, Fernando
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.