How mixed metal exposures affect children's brain health in rural Bangladesh
Official title: Building Capacity to study mixed metal-induced neurotoxicity in rural Bangladeshi children-A1
Funded at Sam Houston State University · NIH-11398350 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project helps Bangladeshi scientists learn better ways to measure how mixtures of metals like arsenic, lead, manganese, and cadmium may harm children's brain development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sam Houston State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Huntsville, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $105,802 |
| NIH project number | 3R01ES032149-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398350 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children living in rural areas of Bangladesh with potential exposure to arsenic, lead, manganese, or cadmium—including infants, toddlers, and school-age children—are the intended focus.
✕Less likely to help
People without metal exposure concerns, those living outside the affected rural areas, or adults not enrolled in the project are unlikely to see direct benefits from this grant.
What this research studies
Local clinicians and researchers in rural Bangladesh will be trained in collecting exposure data, taking biological samples, and doing child development and neurobehavioral tests. Teams will measure levels of multiple metals and link those exposures to learning, behavior, and developmental findings in infants and school-age children. U.S. universities will provide hands-on training, lab methods, and data-analysis support while Bangladeshi partners lead field work. The goal is to build local capacity so future studies and public-health actions can better protect children's brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection of metal-related developmental problems and stronger local programs to prevent or reduce children's exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in Bangladesh and elsewhere have linked single-metal exposures to developmental harms, but combining mixed-metal exposure analysis with local capacity building is less common and relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khan, Khalid M. — Sam Houston State University
- Study coordinator: Khan, Khalid 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.