Low-cost water tests to find cancer-causing N‑nitrosamines
Project 3: Methods for Selective Extraction, Concentration and Detection of N-Nitrosamines
This project makes inexpensive tests people can use to detect harmful N‑nitrosamine chemicals in water and the environment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126767 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is creating porous polymer films and particles that selectively soak up and concentrate N‑nitrosamines from water so small amounts become easier to detect. They will also build a novel optical sensor to spot NDMA by detecting its unique fragmentation products. When N‑nitrosamines are found, samples will be sent to centralized labs for precise identification of which compounds are present. The aim is to produce affordable, easy-to-use tools that community members or small organizations can deploy for local screening.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people worried about water contamination, such as residents near Superfund sites, private well users, or communities concerned about drinking-water safety.
Not a fit: People seeking clinical treatment for cancer or other diseases will not receive medical therapy from this project because it focuses on detecting chemicals rather than providing treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could let people and communities find and reduce exposure to potent carcinogens in water before health effects occur.
How similar studies have performed: Existing laboratory methods for N‑nitrosamines are accurate but centralized and costly, and while some portable sensors exist this combination of selective absorptive materials and a novel optical NDMA sensor is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Swager, Timothy M — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Swager, Timothy M
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 below.