Understanding how PFAS may harm female fertility and ovary health
Official title: Investigating ovotoxic mechanisms of PFAS
Funded at Iowa State University · NIH-11344297 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant studies how PFAS chemicals might reduce a woman’s ovarian health and fertility, especially considering obesity and different life stages.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ames, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $758,139 |
| NIH project number | 1R01ES038580-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11344297 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be women of reproductive age or those at risk of infertility, with a focus on understanding how PFAS exposure and body weight impact ovarian health.
✕Less likely to help
People without exposure to PFAS or not concerned with ovarian health may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
The project focuses on how environmental PFAS chemicals could injure the ovary and deplete the egg reserve, potentially leading to infertility or early menopause. Researchers will examine how PFAS exposure changes the ovarian proteome and weight, and how obesity may amplify these effects. The work aims to uncover mechanisms linking chemical exposure, metabolism, and female reproductive health, using relevant models to explore the risks across life stages. The findings could help inform safer environmental exposures and strategies to protect ovarian function for women and girls.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could clarify risks from PFAS exposure and guide healthier environmental practices to protect fertility.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown PFAS can affect ovarian tissue and reproductive health, but this project seeks to define mechanisms and the role of obesity more clearly.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa State University
Ames, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keating, Aileen Frances — Iowa State University
- Study coordinator: Keating, Aileen Frances
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.