How prenatal exposure to flame-retardants affects childhood obesity
Official title: Prenatal Exposures to Flame-Retardants: Mitochondrial Signatures and Childhood Obesity
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-10670305 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being exposed to certain flame-retardant chemicals before birth might affect kids' weight as they grow up, and it’s for families who want to understand more about how the environment can influence childhood obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00ES030749-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10670305 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women and their children, particularly those exposed to PBDEs during pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or whose children are older than 18 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of prenatal exposure to poly-brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a type of flame-retardant, on childhood obesity. It aims to understand how these chemicals may lead to increased fat accumulation in children by examining mitochondrial DNA and its role in energy metabolism. The study will utilize data from a longitudinal birth cohort, analyzing cord blood samples and tracking body mass index (BMI) and fat mass from ages 5 to 18. By combining toxicology with human population studies, the research seeks to uncover the mechanisms linking environmental exposures to obesity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing childhood obesity by understanding the role of environmental factors.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown associations between environmental exposures and obesity, but this specific investigation into PBDEs and mitochondrial effects is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kupsco, Allison — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kupsco, Allison
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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.