Protecting Health from Harmful N-nitrosamines in our communities
Official title: The MIT Superfund Research Program: A Systems Approach for the Protection of Human Health from Hazardous Chemicals
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11398586 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project from MIT aims to understand and reduce the cancer risk from N-nitrosamines by developing quick smartphone sensors and animal models to study exposure and disease links.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,703,687 |
| NIH project number | 5P42ES027707-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398586 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals living near contaminated sites or communities affected by environmental carcinogens who may participate in community science activities or benefit from improved public health protections.
✕Less likely to help
People not exposed to N-nitrosamines or those not at risk from environmental contamination may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports innovative tools that can detect harmful N-nitrosamines in the environment using smartphone-based sensors and high-throughput test systems. Researchers will use a mouse model to study long-term, low-dose exposure and its potential to cause genetic mutations and cancer-related effects. They will also integrate diverse data to predict disease risk and guide prevention efforts, with a focus on real-world cleanup and protection of water supplies. The work includes engaging communities and translating laboratory findings into actionable environmental health protections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could improve early detection, risk prediction, and prevention of cancers linked to chemical exposures in people’s drinking water and environment.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches using smart sensors and animal models have advanced understanding of carcinogens, though this project combines citizen science with multi-omics for prevention.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Engelward, Bevin P. — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Engelward, Bevin P.
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.