How prenatal metal exposure affects childhood aging markers
Official title: Prenatal metal exposures and childhood telomere length attrition
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11038289 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being exposed to certain metals before birth might affect how quickly children age on a cellular level, and it will also explore how the bacteria in their gut might play a role in this process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 29, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $445,240 |
| NIH project number | 1R21ES037112-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11038289 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals and their children, particularly those exposed to various metal environments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or whose children are beyond the early childhood age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of prenatal exposure to metals on the length of telomeres, which are indicators of biological aging in children. It focuses on understanding how these exposures during critical developmental periods, such as infancy and adolescence, may influence health outcomes later in life. The study will also explore the role of the gut microbiome in this process, examining how the composition of gut bacteria interacts with metal exposure to affect telomere length over time. By analyzing these complex relationships, the research aims to uncover factors that contribute to accelerated biological aging in children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding of how prenatal environmental factors influence childhood health and aging, potentially guiding interventions to mitigate risks.
How similar studies have gone: While some studies have explored the effects of prenatal exposures on health, the specific focus on metal exposure, gut microbiome interactions, and telomere length attrition in children is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Midya, Vishal — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Midya, Vishal
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.