Wildfire smoke and female fertility: a big-picture, multi-study effort
Official title: A transdisciplinary approach to evaluate the effects of wildfire smoke on fertility
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11423672 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how wildfire smoke affects women’s fertility, using data from fertility clinics, a patient biorepository, and lab studies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $787,128 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES037796-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423672 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies or those contributing data to the ART Surveillance System, particularly from Western US regions affected by wildfires.
✕Less likely to help
People not undergoing fertility treatment or without wildfire exposure data may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant brings together population data from ART cycles, a clinical biorepository, and laboratory investigations to study whether wildfire smoke exposure influences female fertility outcomes. Researchers will analyze ART records to see if wildfire-related air pollution changes chances of pregnancy or live birth, and will examine biological samples to understand mechanisms in reproductive tissues. The work combines real-world patient information with controlled experiments to connect air quality with reproductive health in a transdisciplinary way.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to guidance for minimizing wildfire smoke exposure in women seeking fertility treatments and inform public health recommendations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show connections between air pollution and fertility outcomes, but this project advances by using population data and a dedicated clinical biorepository.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gaskins, Audrey Jane — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Gaskins, Audrey Jane
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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.