Investigating how air pollution may increase the risk of ALS.
Official title: RFA-TS-24-010: Ambient Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for ALS - Using a Multiomics Approach in a High-Quality Epidemiologic Study
Funded at Karolinska Institute · NIH-11001265 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how air pollution might be connected to ALS, using health records and samples from people with the condition in Sweden, to see if things like infections and changes in the body could play a role in how ALS starts and progresses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Karolinska Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Solna, Sweden) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $299,567 |
| NIH project number | 1R01TS000348-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11001265 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals at risk for ALS, particularly those with a family history of the disease or exposure to high levels of air pollution.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have any risk factors for ALS or those already diagnosed with advanced stages of the disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the potential link between air pollution and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using a comprehensive approach that combines data from a national ALS registry in Sweden. By analyzing biospecimens and health records, the study aims to understand how air pollution, along with infections, may influence the onset and progression of ALS. The researchers will focus on changes in protein expression related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and the gut microbiome to uncover possible mechanisms behind this relationship.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights for preventing ALS and identifying novel treatment targets.
How similar studies have gone: While the connection between air pollution and various health conditions has been studied, this specific investigation into ALS is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Karolinska Institute
Solna, Sweden Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fang, Fang — Karolinska Institute
- Study coordinator: Fang, Fang
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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.