Metal mixtures, epigenome, and body fat risk across childhood
Official title: Metal mixtures, epigenome, adiposity and cardiometabolic risk across early life
Funded at Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr · NIH-11401025 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study following kids from birth to adolescence to see how blood metals and DNA changes relate to body fat and heart-healthy risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $733,107 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK141453-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401025 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged roughly 4 to 16 years who are part of the TIGER Kids, EPOCH, Healthy Start, or Project Viva cohorts or similar populations.
✕Less likely to help
Children outside these cohorts or without the measured data may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project will use data from four existing groups of children to look for links between metals in the blood from fetal life through early childhood, DNA methylation patterns, and measures of adiposity and cardiometabolic health as kids grow. Researchers will measure body fat with MRI and DXA and collect metabolic markers like glucose, insulin, and lipids, along with lifestyle and developmental data. By comparing discovery and replication groups, the study aims to identify biomarker patterns that predict later health concerns. The work will generate new, time-specific data on early-life metal exposure and epigenetic changes. The ultimate goal is to better understand how early environmental factors shape childhood health and risk for future diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could help scientists identify early-life biomarkers that predict obesity and cardiometabolic risk, guiding prevention efforts.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have found associations between early-life exposures and later adiposity, but this project seeks to validate biomarkers across multiple cohorts.
Where this research is happening
-
Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Gang — Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr
- Study coordinator: Hu, Gang
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.