Investigating how arsenic and ultraviolet radiation together increase cancer risk
Official title: Mutational Signatures of a Combined Environmental Exposure: Arsenic and Ultraviolet Radiation
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-10869994 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how exposure to arsenic and UV light together might increase the risk of skin cancer, and it hopes to find ways to help prevent these cancers in people who might be affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | April 6, 2020 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $495,601 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES030993-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10869994 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have been exposed to arsenic in drinking water and are at risk for skin cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to arsenic or do not have a history of skin cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the effects of arsenic exposure combined with ultraviolet radiation on cancer development. It aims to understand the molecular mechanisms by which arsenic acts as a co-carcinogen, particularly in skin cancers. Using advanced next-generation sequencing techniques, the study will analyze mutational signatures in tumors to identify specific DNA repair defects caused by these environmental factors. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to better prevention strategies for arsenic-related cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prevention strategies for skin cancers associated with arsenic exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that environmental factors like arsenic can increase cancer risk, but this specific combination with ultraviolet radiation is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hudson, Laurie G — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Hudson, Laurie G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Prenatal and early-life chemical exposures linked to faster cellular aging in children and adolescents
Researchers will look at whether prenatal and early-life mixtures of chemicals and factors like diet and obesity speed up cellular aging in children and teens.
-
Heart organoids reveal how environmental chemicals affect heart function
A small research project uses lab-grown human heart tissue to study how environmental chemicals may change heart biology and function, aiming to identify early signs of heart problems.
-
Environmental exposures and inflammation in blood stem cells
Many people exposed to pollution and environmental disasters may develop blood disorders due to inflammation and DNA changes in blood stem cells.
-
Multimethod detection of brain micro- and nanoplastics in Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers will look for tiny plastic particles in human brains and see how they relate to Alzheimer’s disease and neighborhood-level environmental risk.
-
ECHO Measurement Core: Tools to track environmental exposures and child health
A large NIH project at Northwestern builds better, culturally sensitive measurements to understand how early environmental exposures affect child health and development.
-
S3E: A kid-friendly game to learn about indoor environmental health
A mobile game helps middle-schoolers learn about everyday indoor environmental exposures and how to reduce health risks like asthma and lead poisoning.
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.