Identifying breath markers to enhance respiratory health in veterans exposed to toxins
Official title: Defining Breath VOC Biomarkers to Improve Respiratory Health of Exposed Veterans
Funded at VA Northern California Health Care Sys · NIH-11097178 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the breath of veterans who have been around harmful substances to find out if certain chemicals can help us understand their lung health better, with the goal of creating a handy device that can monitor their breathing and improve care for respiratory issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Northern California Health Care Sys NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mather, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2021 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX004965-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11097178 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include veterans who have been exposed to environmental toxins during their service.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to any toxicants during their military service may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to identify specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath of veterans who have been exposed to harmful substances. By developing a portable breath monitoring system, the project seeks to facilitate large-scale studies on respiratory health among military personnel. The study will focus on correlating these breath markers with environmental exposures and lung function changes, ultimately aiming to improve prevention and treatment strategies for respiratory diseases. This innovative approach could provide real-time health monitoring for veterans at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved respiratory health monitoring and early intervention for veterans exposed to toxicants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using breath analysis for health monitoring, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Northern California Health Care Sys
Mather, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kenyon, Nicholas J. — VA Northern California Health Care Sys
- Study coordinator: Kenyon, Nicholas J.
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.