Investigating environmental metals and nanoparticles linked to ALS in Massachusetts patients
Official title: Investigating Toxic Elements and Nanoparticles in ALS Etiology: A Geospatial and Toxicological Evaluation of Massachusetts ALS Registry Patients
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11393634 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study looks at how toxic elements and nanoparticles may contribute to ALS in patients from Massachusetts to better understand disease causes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $387,632 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES034133-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393634 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
ALS patients registered in the Massachusetts ALS Registry or similar cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
People without ALS or unrelated conditions are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project explores environmental factors that might contribute to ALS by examining toxic elements in patients from the Massachusetts ALS Registry. Researchers plan geospatial and toxicological analyses to connect exposure histories with disease patterns, aiming to identify elements that may be involved in ALS development. The work will use patient data and potentially biological samples to assess metals like lead, mercury, and manganese and how they relate to timing before symptom onset. Findings could point to environmental risk factors that future patients might avoid or mitigate through public health actions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could clarify environmental risks linked to ALS and inform prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work has shown associations between certain toxic elements and ALS, but further validation is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stommel, Elijah W — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Stommel, Elijah W
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.