PFAS exposure and kidney cancer risk in US adults
Official title: Perfluoroalkyl substances and risk of kidney cancer in US men and women
Funded at Brown University · NIH-11385958 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies whether exposure to PFAS chemicals is linked to higher risk of kidney cancer in men and women in the United States.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | June 20, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $629,329 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES034014-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385958 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in the US with available PFAS exposure data and matched controls from large cohort resources; individuals who develop kidney cancer during follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without PFAS data or without subsequent cancer outcomes may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The researchers will follow a large group of people over time to see if those with higher PFAS exposure develop more kidney cancer. They will use existing resources from five large, well-characterized cohorts to compare people with different levels of PFAS in blood samples. The study design is a nested case-control approach, focusing on renal cell carcinoma risk and PFAS levels. The goal is to clarify whether environmental PFAS exposure contributes to kidney cancer in diverse US populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If PFAS exposure is linked to kidney cancer, findings could guide public health policies and recommendations to reduce exposure and improve cancer prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary evidence suggests a potential link, but larger prospective studies are needed to confirm associations.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zheng, Tongzhang — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Zheng, Tongzhang
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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.