Understanding how work exposures and genes influence ALS risk
Official title: RFA-TS-23-001: ?Identify and Evaluate Potential Risk Factors for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11631673 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study is building a long-term group of people at higher risk for ALS to see how their jobs, exposures at work, and genes together affect if and when the disease might develop.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $59,998 |
| NIH project number | 6R01TS000344-03M001 |
| Project ID | NIH-11631673 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with higher risk for ALS due to occupation, environmental exposures, or family history may be invited to join.
✕Less likely to help
People without elevated ALS risk or occupational exposure history may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows people at elevated risk for ALS over time to track their exposures to metals and other job-related factors, their genetic risk, and any signs of disease changes. Researchers will collect detailed life exposure histories, run genetic analyses, and monitor health status to identify patterns linked to ALS onset. The goal is to find combination factors that help explain why some individuals develop ALS and when that might happen. The study is designed to translate these findings into strategies for prevention and earlier intervention for people at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier risk detection and targeted prevention strategies for ALS.
How similar studies have gone: Previous ALS exposure and genetics studies have shown associations, but a prospective cohort combining exposome and polygenic risk is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goutman, Stephen — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Goutman, Stephen
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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.