Protecting people from dangerous N‑nitrosamine chemicals near Superfund sites
The MIT Superfund Research Program: A Systems Approach for the Protection of Human Health from Hazardous Chemicals
This project builds easy smartphone sensors, lab tests, and models to find and study cancer‑causing N‑nitrosamine contamination to help people living near polluted sites like Wilmington, MA and affected tribal lands.
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 ID | NIH-11126712 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live near a contaminated site, this project lets community members use smartphone‑based light sensors to help detect N‑nitrosamines in water and the environment. In the lab, researchers will use high‑throughput cell‑based ‘animate’ sensors to see how these chemicals affect biological pathways linked to cancer risk. A specially engineered mouse model will act as a sensitive ‘canary’ to study long‑term, low‑dose effects, and multi‑omics data will be combined in a data core to find predictive markers of harm. The results aim to inform cleanup priorities and prevention strategies to reduce exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents of communities with known or suspected N‑nitrosamine contamination (for example Wilmington, MA or certain tribal lands) who are willing to use sensors, share environmental samples, or provide health‑related information.
Not a fit: People without any exposure to N‑nitrosamines or those seeking immediate individual medical treatment are unlikely to get direct personal health benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help detect dangerous exposures earlier and guide cleanups to lower cancer risk for affected communities.
How similar studies have performed: Community‑based environmental monitoring and lab bioassays have helped guide cleanups before, but combining smartphone citizen science, cell‑microarray ‘animate’ sensors, and engineered mouse models for low‑dose N‑nitrosamines is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- 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 below.