Investigating the health effects of PFAS mixtures in drinking water
Official title: Spatial and Tensor Methods for Estimating the Health Effects of PFAS Mixtures
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11050456 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how harmful chemicals called PFAS in drinking water might affect your health, using data from Medicare and health records to better understand the connection between these chemicals and health problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | June 10, 2025 |
| Project end | March 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $474,639 |
| NIH project number | 1R01ES036270-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11050456 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have been exposed to PFAS through drinking water, particularly those in areas with known contamination.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to PFAS or those with unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how mixtures of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are harmful chemicals found in drinking water, affect health outcomes. By utilizing advanced statistical methods and data from nationwide Medicare beneficiaries and electronic health records in North Carolina, the project aims to identify the causal relationships between PFAS exposure and various health issues. The study addresses challenges such as spatial dependence and bias in observational data to provide a clearer picture of PFAS health impacts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved public health guidelines and interventions to reduce the harmful effects of PFAS in drinking water.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using similar statistical methods to analyze health outcomes related to environmental exposures, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reich, Brian J. — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Reich, Brian 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.