New and better ways to measure kids' exposure to air pollution and traffic
Official title: Novel and improved exposure assessment in childhood cancer (NICE)
Funded at University of North Texas · NIH-11422688 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how traffic-related air pollution and green space around homes may affect cancer risk in children and uses advanced exposure measurements to better understand these links.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Texas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denton, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $149,460 |
| NIH project number | 1R16GM165989-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422688 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 years with or at risk of cancer, or populations in California exposed to traffic-related pollutants.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy children or families without exposure concerns may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Childhood cancer is a major concern, and this study aims to understand how air pollution from traffic and the amount of green space near homes influence cancer risk in children. The team will use existing California exposure models for NO2, PM2.5, ultrafine particles, and oil/gas development, and apply them to a large population-based study of childhood cancers. The goal is to improve how we measure environmental exposures so researchers can identify preventable risks and strategies to reduce them. The work builds on a decade of experience in exposure science and fetal/childhood cancer research. Overall, the project seeks to clarify how place and pollution affect cancer risk in children to inform public health actions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better prevention strategies by reducing dangerous exposures and guiding policy decisions to protect children's health.
How similar studies have gone: The team has prior validated models for NO2, PM2.5, and other exposures and applied them to cancer-related research, supporting approach feasibility.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Texas
Denton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heck, Julia — University of North Texas
- Study coordinator: Heck, Julia
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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.