Mount Sinai researcher receives $3.3M NIH grant to study PFAS and IBD

Manasi Agrawal, a researcher at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has received a $3.3 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant to lead a five-year study on the link between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” PFAS exposure may contribute to the development of IBD years before symptoms manifest. The study aims to investigate whether these chemicals disrupt biological processes that protect the intestine and regulate the immune system. Unlike prior research that focused on specific chemicals, this study will measure all detectable PFAS to reflect real-world complex exposures.

Researchers will also examine glycosylation, a process that adds carbohydrate structures to proteins and is vital for intestinal health. The investigation will test if PFAS exposure disrupts the protective glycocalyx lining the intestine and alters glycosylation patterns in the blood, potentially identifying individuals at risk for Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.