Manganese Pollution and Brain Health in African Communities
Official title: South African Manganese EnvironmentaL NeuroToxic Effects Research (SMELTER)
Funded at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center · NIH-11394854 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies whether environmental manganese exposure from a large South African smelter is linked to worsening motor and cognitive health in a defined African cohort.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phoenix, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $417,289 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES035388-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394854 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in Meyerton, South Africa, and comparison residents in Ethembalethu who have been or could be exposed to manganese emissions.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not exposed to significant manganese or without neurological symptoms may see limited direct benefits.
What this research studies
Researchers have followed over 800 African residents, including more than 700 exposed to manganese emissions, to see how brain-related health changes unfold over time. They will use validated language-appropriate tools to measure motor function, mood, and cognition and will track environmental manganese levels in exposed and non-exposed communities. The study will look at both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations to understand progression of symptoms in the same group of participants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could clarify how environmental manganese affects brain health and inform public health actions to protect communities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed poorer motor and cognitive outcomes in exposed individuals, supporting further longitudinal investigation.
Where this research is happening
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St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Phoenix, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Racette, Brad a — St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Racette, Brad a
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.