How genes and environmental exposures change human cells
Official title: Experimental Cellular Approaches to Genotype × Environment Interaction
Funded at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · NIH-11178030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how cells made from people’s blood respond to environmental exposures depending on their genes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Edinburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,597,684 |
| NIH project number | 5RM1GM149403-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178030 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults willing to give a blood sample, particularly those with known exposure to air pollution or age-related conditions relevant to the project.
✕Less likely to help
People looking for an immediate treatment or clinical improvement should not expect direct personal benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would give a blood sample so researchers can make induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and turn them into organ-specific cells in the lab. They expose those lab-grown cells to controlled environmental challenges, such as pollution-related chemicals, and measure how the cells behave before and after exposure. By comparing responses across people with different genetic backgrounds, they aim to identify cases where genes change how cells react to the environment. The goal is to reproduce personal gene × environment effects in a controlled setting to find biological markers of risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal why some people are more vulnerable to environmental pollutants and suggest biomarkers or targets for prevention.
How similar studies have gone: iPSC-based cellular models have shown promise for modeling genetic effects in certain diseases, but using them broadly for genotype×environment questions is a relatively new direction.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Curran, Joanne E. — University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Study coordinator: Curran, Joanne E.
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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.