Understanding how lead exposure affects brain cell death in young children
Official title: Investigating the Role of Apoptosis in Early Life Vulnerability to Lead-Induced Neurotoxicity
Funded at Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11070851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how lead exposure affects brain development in children and whether blocking certain proteins can help protect their brains from damage, aiming to find ways to reduce the negative effects of lead on young minds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 19, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $41,656 |
| NIH project number | 1F31ES036462-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under the age of 11 who have been exposed to lead.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not children or who have not been exposed to lead may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to lead, a harmful neurotoxin, impacts brain development in children, particularly focusing on the process of apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The study aims to understand why younger brains are more susceptible to damage from lead exposure and whether blocking certain proteins involved in apoptosis can help protect these vulnerable neural cells. By examining the role of the pro-apoptotic protein BAX, the research seeks to identify potential interventions that could mitigate the neurocognitive impairments associated with lead exposure in early life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for protecting children's brains from the harmful effects of lead exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding apoptosis can lead to breakthroughs in protecting against neurotoxic damage, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Osman, Marwa — Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Osman, Marwa
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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.