PFAS exposure around pregnancy and early childhood immunity
Perinatal Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) exposure and Immunotoxicity in early life
This project looks at whether PFAS exposure before and after birth weakens babies' immune responses to vaccines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259472 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work links community water testing with lab experiments to see how PFAS exposure during pregnancy and early life might affect a child's immune system. Researchers will measure PFAS levels in water and biological samples and run animal experiments using pregnant dams to check antibody responses in their offspring after vaccination. They will examine immune cells, the gut microbiome, and how much antibody is passed from mother to baby through the placenta and breast milk. The team will compare older PFAS chemicals and newer ones like PFBS, and study realistic mixtures people encounter.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people, new parents, or families with infants living in communities with known PFAS-contaminated drinking water (for example Pittsboro, NC) would be the most relevant candidates for related human studies or sample contributions.
Not a fit: Adults who are not pregnant or caring for infants, and people without meaningful PFAS exposure, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could identify PFAS that harm infant vaccine responses and guide actions to protect babies and improve drinking water safety.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human and animal studies have linked legacy PFAS to weaker vaccine antibody responses in children, but effects of newer PFAS compounds and real-world mixtures remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feng, Liping — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Feng, Liping
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.