How wildland-urban interface fires may lead to congenital heart disease.
Official title: Transformation of metal oxide nanomaterials in wildland-urban interface fires causes congenital heart disease
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11038828 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how ashes from wildfires might change tiny metal materials and how these changes could be linked to heart problems in babies, using zebrafish and mouse cells to see how they affect heart development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | January 18, 2025 |
| Project end | January 17, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $409,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21ES037105-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11038828 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in areas affected by wildland-urban interface fires, particularly those with a family history of congenital heart disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not live in fire-affected areas or who do not have a history of congenital heart disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires on the transformation of metal oxide nanomaterials and their potential link to congenital heart disease. By analyzing fire ash samples collected from recent fires in California and Hawaii, the study aims to understand how these contaminants affect cell growth and viability, particularly in relation to cardiac development. The research utilizes zebrafish embryos and mouse embryonic cells to explore the toxic effects of these materials, providing insights into how environmental factors may contribute to heart malformations in developing organisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a better understanding of environmental causes of congenital heart disease, potentially informing prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on metal oxide nanomaterials in WUI fires is novel, previous research has established links between environmental toxins and congenital heart defects.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Azhar, Mohamad — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Azhar, Mohamad
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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.