Investigating the link between environmental pollutants and liver disease in children
Official title: Perfluoroalkyl substances and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children: Leveraging magnetic resonance imaging to unravel potential mechanisms and exposure mixture effects
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10646759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain harmful chemicals in the environment might affect children's liver health, specifically in relation to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, by using special imaging techniques to see how much fat is in the liver and how genetics might play a role.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $478,503 |
| NIH project number | 1R21ES035148-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10646759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children who have been exposed to PFAS and are at risk for developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have any exposure to PFAS or do not exhibit risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), harmful environmental pollutants, may contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children. Using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, the study aims to quantify fat and lipid content in the liver, helping to establish a causal relationship between PFAS exposure and liver health. The research also seeks to explore how genetic and metabolic factors may interact with PFAS exposure to influence the development of NAFLD. By examining these connections, the study hopes to provide insights into the mechanisms behind this prevalent liver disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children, potentially reducing the risk of serious long-term health complications.
How similar studies have gone: While there is existing evidence linking PFAS exposure to liver health issues, this study's use of advanced MRI technology to quantify liver fat is a novel approach that has not been extensively tested in previous research.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oulhote, Youssef — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Oulhote, Youssef
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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.