Wildfires and Heart Health: How Smoke Affects Heart Disease and Ways to Help
Official title: Wildfires and Cardiovascular Health: Evaluating Associations and Intervention Strategies
Funded at University of Montana · NIH-11401056 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how wildfire smoke may worsen heart disease and tests ways to keep indoor air cleaner for adults with cardiovascular conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Montana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Missoula, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $226,095 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM130418-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401056 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cardiovascular disease living in Montana or nearby regions who may experience wildfire smoke exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without cardiovascular conditions or those not exposed to wildfire smoke contexts may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you have cardiovascular disease or are worried about heart health, this program investigates how smoke from wildfires affects hospital visits and heart procedures in Montana. Researchers will use existing data on air pollution and health outcomes from 2010–2022 to see if higher pollution is linked to more heart-related hospitalizations and procedures like PCI. They will also test a practical indoor air quality improvement plan using portable air cleaners to help people breathe cleaner air at home. The project emphasizes real-world application and collaboration with clinicians to develop strategies YOU could benefit from.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could reduce heart risk during wildfire seasons by improving indoor air quality for people with cardiovascular disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work links air pollution to cardiovascular events, but this project tests a practical indoor air intervention in a real-world setting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Montana
Missoula, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walker, Ethan Sheppard — University of Montana
- Study coordinator: Walker, Ethan Sheppard
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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.