How neighborhood and environment change genes in Black children with asthma
Epigenome-wide variations and socio-environmental exposures in African American asthmatic children
This project looks at how neighborhood and environmental exposures relate to DNA changes tied to asthma in African American children to build better, ancestry-specific risk predictions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136390 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of work that combines detailed neighborhood and environmental data with genetic and DNA methylation information from African American children with asthma. Researchers use geocoding, genome-wide Methyl-Seq, and a multi-ethnic genotyping array (MEGA) alongside new statistical methods to create a combined asthma risk score. The team leverages an existing, well-phenotyped pediatric cohort from Cincinnati and linked socio-environmental exposures rather than testing a new treatment. Results aim to clarify which environmental factors leave measurable marks on DNA that relate to asthma disparities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are African American children with asthma (especially ages 0–11) who are part of or similar to the Cincinnati pediatric cohort with available clinical and exposure information.
Not a fit: Children who are not African American, adults, or individuals without asthma are unlikely to benefit directly from this ancestry-specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more accurate, ancestry-tailored asthma risk prediction and point to environmental targets for prevention in African American children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked DNA methylation and environmental exposures to asthma, but combining geospatial exposure data with ancestry-specific genetic and methylation profiling for prediction is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mersha, Tesfaye B. — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Mersha, Tesfaye B.
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.