The impact of urban rat exposure on asthma in children
Official title: Urban rat exposure and pediatric asthma
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-10886814 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being around rat allergens might make asthma worse for kids living in cities, and it aims to help find ways to reduce rat populations to keep these children healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $166,679 |
| NIH project number | 5K08ES035460-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10886814 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years living in urban environments who have been diagnosed with asthma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not live in urban areas or who do not have asthma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to rat allergens affects the severity of asthma in children living in urban areas. By utilizing innovative methods to assess rat exposure, including studying rat populations and analyzing public complaint data, the research aims to understand the connection between rat presence and asthma symptoms. Established groups of inner-city children will be monitored to evaluate how their asthma severity correlates with rat exposure. The findings could inform future interventions aimed at reducing rat populations to improve children's health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective strategies for reducing asthma severity in children by minimizing their exposure to rat allergens.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that environmental factors, including allergens from urban wildlife, can significantly impact asthma outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosenbaum, Marieke Hilarides — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Rosenbaum, Marieke Hilarides
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Urban rat exposure and pediatric asthma in inner-city children
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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.