Wildfire smoke and pregnancy health: protecting moms and babies
Official title: Wildfire, health effects and solution (WHES)
Funded at University of California, Merced · NIH-11347732 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study from UC Merced will look at how wildfire smoke affects pregnant people and newborns and test practical ways to reduce exposure and health risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, Merced NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Merced, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $758,827 |
| NIH project number | 1R01ES038556-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11347732 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants include pregnant people in California and their newborns, particularly those with or at risk due to chronic health conditions.
✕Less likely to help
People not exposed to wildfire smoke or not pregnant may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will examine how wildfire-related air pollution (PM2.5) may impact pregnancy and infant health, especially for those with existing health conditions. Researchers will explore how human behaviors change exposure and test strategies like land management and prescribed burning to reduce smoke at the source. The study uses an integrated framework to connect wildfire air quality, behavior, and health outcomes in California. The findings could guide policies and actions to better protect pregnant people and babies during wildfire seasons.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better guidance for minimizing wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy and improve infant health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows wildfire smoke can affect health, but this project aims to test proactive mitigation strategies in real-world settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, Merced
Merced, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ha, Sandie U — University of California, Merced
- Study coordinator: Ha, Sandie U
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.