Toxic metals and nanoparticles linked to ALS in Massachusetts patients
Investigating Toxic Elements and Nanoparticles in ALS Etiology: A Geospatial and Toxicological Evaluation of Massachusetts ALS Registry Patients
This project looks for connections between exposure to toxic metals and nanoparticles and ALS among people in the Massachusetts ALS registry.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142496 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of research that combines where people lived and worked with laboratory testing to look for past exposures to toxic metals and nanoparticles. Researchers will use the Massachusetts ALS registry and geospatial mapping to estimate exposures that happened before symptoms began. They will also measure toxic elements in patient samples and, where available, autopsy tissue to better reflect what reached the nervous system. The goal is to identify environmental exposure patterns—such as lead, mercury, or manganese—that may help explain why some people develop ALS.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with ALS listed in the Massachusetts registry who can provide residential and work location histories and, when possible, biospecimens or consent for tissue analysis.
Not a fit: People without ALS, those living outside Massachusetts, or patients who cannot provide location history or samples are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could uncover preventable environmental risks for ALS and point to targets for earlier detection or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked lead, mercury, and manganese to ALS risk, but combining geospatial exposure mapping with tissue-level toxicology is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Lebanon, United States
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic — Lebanon, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stommel, Elijah W — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Stommel, Elijah W
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.