Understanding how arsenic and nutrients affect the risk of spina bifida
Official title: Interdisciplinary approaches for understanding how arsenic and micronutrients affect the epigenome to influence spina bifida risk
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11004623 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how exposure to arsenic and levels of certain nutrients might affect the chances of babies being born with serious birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly, and it aims to help us find ways to prevent these issues by understanding how our environment can impact pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 20, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $763,305 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES034713-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11004623 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals or those planning to become pregnant, particularly in areas with known arsenic contamination.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not plan to become pregnant may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of arsenic exposure and micronutrient levels on the risk of spina bifida and anencephaly, severe birth defects that occur during early pregnancy. The team of experts will explore how arsenic may alter gene expression through epigenetic changes, specifically looking at DNA methylation patterns. By combining insights from child neurology, epigenetics, and environmental health, the research aims to identify potential preventive strategies for these conditions. Patients may benefit from a better understanding of how environmental factors influence neural tube defects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new prevention strategies for spina bifida and anencephaly, potentially reducing their incidence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that environmental factors like arsenic can influence neural tube defects, suggesting that this approach has potential based on existing findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mazumdar, Maitreyi — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Mazumdar, Maitreyi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving care and outcomes for people living with spina bifida in Wisconsin
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The National Spina Bifida Patient Registry at University of Pittsburgh
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Improving Care and Outcomes for People Living with Spina Bifida
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Scoliosis and neurosurgical factors in myelomeningocele: a clinic registry study
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UMPIRE: Better Urologic Care for Babies with Spina Bifida
This grant tests how to best protect kidney function in newborns with spina bifida by comparing and refining urologic care practices across multiple hospitals.
-
Spina Bifida Collaborative Care Network to Improve Outcomes
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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.