Trace metals and liver disease: how environmental exposure may shape liver health
Official title: Trace metals in environmental media and their association with liver disease
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11440941 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether long-term exposure to metals in the environment is linked to worsening liver disease in people from the Southern U.S.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $408,929 |
| NIH project number | 1R21ES039078-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11440941 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and older adolescents who are part of the STRIVE cohort or similar cohorts with liver disease and available environmental exposure data.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without liver disease or without available environmental exposure data may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Chronic liver disease affects many people, and this project investigates whether metals found in soil, dust, and water contribute to liver damage and progression to liver cancer. Using existing samples from the Southern Liver Health Study, researchers will examine metal levels in participants and relate them to liver health outcomes over time. The study includes a cross-sectional analysis of 800 participants and a longitudinal follow-up of 300 participants to see if metal exposure predicts cirrhosis progression to hepatocellular carcinoma. Results could help identify environmental risks and inform prevention and monitoring for at-risk communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could clarify environmental risk factors for liver disease and guide public health strategies to reduce exposure and improve liver health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Past research has linked environmental metal exposure to health risks, but direct links to liver disease progression are still evolving, making this study timely and exploratory in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Duffy, Alexandra Grace — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Duffy, Alexandra Grace
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.