PFAS may speed up artery disease by changing bile acids
Official title: PFAS accelerate atherosclerosis through modulation of bile acid metabolism
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11567374 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if PFAS chemicals make cholesterol rise and arteries more likely to harden, using a human-similar mouse model to understand how this could affect people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $672,543 |
| NIH project number | 4R01ES034407-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11567374 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Humans with high cholesterol or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease may benefit from understanding PFAS-related risks.
✕Less likely to help
People without PFAS exposure or at low cardiovascular risk may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a mouse model that mimics human cholesterol patterns to test whether exposure to common PFAS chemicals increases cholesterol and promotes artery plaque formation. By feeding mice a diet that promotes atherosclerosis and exposing them to a mix of PFAS, researchers will measure cholesterol, bile acids, and the development of arterial plaques. The results could help explain how PFAS exposure relates to heart disease risk in people and guide future dietary or regulatory approaches. The study builds on earlier findings showing PFAS raise cholesterol and bile acids in a model that better reflects human biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could clarify how PFAS exposure contributes to heart disease risk and inform public health strategies to reduce exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier rodent studies showed PFAS raise cholesterol, but this project uses a human-like mouse model to improve extrapolation to people.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petriello, Michael Curtis — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Petriello, Michael Curtis
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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.