Prenatal pollution exposure and newborn lung injury risk
Official title: Proj3:Role of cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A/1B1 enzymes in the potentiation of neonatal lung injury in newborn mice exposed prenatally to PHs,and increased risk of premature infants to chronic lung disease
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11388581 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether chemicals from polluted sites during pregnancy make preterm newborns more likely to develop serious lung disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | February 28, 2020 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $531,210 |
| NIH project number | 5P42ES027725-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388581 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would include pregnant people who lived near contaminated sites during pregnancy or parents of premature infants whose prenatal exposure to PAHs is a concern.
✕Less likely to help
People without prenatal exposure to PAHs or families of infants born full-term are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific project.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are exploring whether pregnant people exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) — pollution chemicals found near Superfund sites — are more likely to have babies who develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). They will use human lung cells, examine clinical data from premature infants, and run experiments in mice exposed before birth to PAHs followed by extra oxygen to mimic NICU care. The team will compare normal mice with mice missing genes that help process PAHs (AHR, CYP1A1/1B1 and related genes) to see how genetics change risk, and they will test whether remediated PAHs are less harmful than the original chemicals. The goal is to connect real-world prenatal exposures to biological mechanisms that could explain higher BPD risk in preterm infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify pollution-related causes of BPD and suggest ways to prevent or reduce lung injury in babies born early.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked prenatal air pollution to preterm birth and lung problems, but combining genetic mouse models, human lung cells, and tests of remediated chemicals is a novel and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moorthy, Bhagavatula — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Moorthy, Bhagavatula
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
A handheld camera for screening eye diseases in newborns
This study is working on a new, easy-to-use camera that takes clear pictures of the eyes of premature babies to help doctors quickly check for vision problems, making it simpler to get the care these little ones need.
-
Effects of alcohol exposure during pregnancy on the immune system of premature newborns
This study looks at how drinking alcohol during pregnancy might affect the immune systems of premature babies, especially those who are very small at birth, to find ways to help them fight infections better.
-
Adaptive e-learning and smartphones to improve newborn and child care in Tanzania
A new program uses smart devices and tailored online learning to help frontline health workers in Mwanza, Tanzania provide better care for newborns and young children.
-
NoviGuide for Newborn Care in Pakistan
A small NIH grant to test a pocket-sized decision support tool for nurses and doctors to improve newborn care in Pakistan.
-
Newborn screening: using gene and metabolite data to refine true vs false positives
A study using genetic and metabolomic data from newborn blood spots to better distinguish real metabolic disorders from false alarms.
-
Evidence-based practices for managing neonatal hypothermia in newborn nurseries
A doctor-led project will study how common newborn hypothermia affects babies in US nurseries and develop trusted guidelines to improve care.
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.