WTC Dust and Thyroid Cancer Progression in Human Organoids
Official title: Mechanisms of WTC Dust-Induced Thyroid Cancer Progression in Organoids
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11578742 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests how World Trade Center dust might influence thyroid cancer progression using human thyroid organoids to model real-life exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $252,788 |
| NIH project number | 1R21OH013145-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11578742 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with thyroid tissue or samples used to derive organoids, or individuals with WTC exposure history related to thyroid concerns, may be relevant.
✕Less likely to help
People without thyroid exposure history or not contributing tissue samples for organoid development may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use organoids created from human thyroid tissue to study how exposure to WTC dust affects normal thyroid cells and thyroid cancer cells. They will expose these organoids to dust components and observe changes in growth, gene activity, and epigenetic patterns that could drive cancer progression. The work aims to reveal direct effects on human cells, rather than relying only on animal models or simple cell cultures. Findings could identify mechanisms by which environmental exposures influence thyroid cancer in people who were exposed to WTC dust. The project is performed in a human-relevant system to better understand potential risks and therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could clarify how environmental dust exposure accelerates thyroid cancer and point toward strategies to prevent or treat it.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with organoids has shown promise in modeling organ-specific cancer progression, supporting the potential value of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Gerwen, Maaike — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Van Gerwen, Maaike
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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.