How inhaled tiny particles may change fetal mitochondria and heart development
Influence of Particulate Matter on Fetal Mitochondrial Programming
This research looks at whether tiny engineered particles breathed in by pregnant people change fetal mitochondria in ways that affect heart development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | West Virginia University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morgantown, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11312715 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I am reading about work that explores whether inhaled engineered nanomaterials during pregnancy change how a fetus' mitochondria form and function. The team uses maternal inhalation exposure models to examine fetal heart tissue, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and chemical tags on RNA such as m6A and m5C. They link oxidant stress, altered RNA methylation, and mitochondrial protein changes to later heart function in the offspring. The goal is to explain how early-life particle exposure could raise the risk of heart problems later on.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be pregnant people with potential inhalation exposure to engineered nanoparticles, for example due to certain occupational tasks or living near industrial sources of fine particulates.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, who have heart conditions unrelated to developmental exposures, or who have no nanoparticle inhalation exposure are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how prenatal nanoparticle exposure increases lifetime heart risk and point to ways to prevent or reduce exposure-related cardiac problems.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies, including prior work from this lab, have shown maternal nanoparticle inhalation can alter fetal heart mitochondria and later heart function, while human data remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Morgantown, United States
- West Virginia University — Morgantown, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hollander, John M — West Virginia University
- Study coordinator: Hollander, John M
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.