How extreme heat during pregnancy affects children's blood pressure
Official title: Effects of Gestational Exposure to Extreme Heat and Heat Vulnerability on Early Life Blood Pressure Trajectories
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11164908 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being exposed to really hot weather during pregnancy might affect kids' blood pressure as they grow up, and it wants to see how things like where you live and your community can change that impact.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | May 14, 2025 |
| Project end | May 13, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $41,136 |
| NIH project number | 1F31ES036864-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11164908 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals living in areas prone to extreme heat, as well as their children who are being monitored for blood pressure changes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or whose children are not within the early childhood age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of extreme heat exposure during pregnancy on the blood pressure of children in early life. It aims to understand how neighborhood conditions, such as built and social environments, influence this relationship. By analyzing data from a regional birth cohort, the study will track blood pressure trends in children and assess how socioeconomic factors may modify the effects of heat exposure. The findings could provide insights into public health strategies to protect vulnerable populations from heat-related health issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions to protect children's cardiovascular health in the face of rising temperatures.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically on heat exposure and children's cardiovascular health, studies have shown that extreme heat can adversely affect health outcomes, indicating potential for significant findings in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neally, Sam Jean — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Neally, Sam Jean
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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.