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Impact of Prenatal Pesticide Exposures on the Vaginal Microbiome and Pregnancy Outcomes

Award Number: R01ES038174
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/07/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2031

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Impact of Prenatal Pesticide Exposures on the Vaginal Microbiome and Pregnancy Outcomes - ABSTRACT Pesticide exposure is common in pregnant women and is linked to adverse birth outcomes, however few epidemiologic studies have addressed increasingly used non-persistent pesticides or underlying biological pathways that may explain observed associations. One potential mechanism is through alterations to the vaginal microbiome, which is associated with several pregnancy complications, including spontaneous preterm birth. Lactobacilli play a prominent role in the vaginal microbiome, making up approximately 70% of microbial abundance in the healthy vagina. Pregnant women with low abundance of Lactobacilli in the vaginal microbiome have higher odds of pregnancy complications. Pesticide exposure has previously been shown to influence the composition and function of both the oral and gut microbiomes in epidemiologic studies, including a reduction in Lactobacilli, however, there is a paucity of evidence on the association between pesticide exposure and the vaginal microbiome. Pesticide exposure may influence the vaginal microbiome via direct chemical exposure through urinary excretion, systemic immune suppression, or endocrine disruption. Because the vaginal microbiome is modifiable through oral and vaginal probiotics, it could serve as an intervention opportunity for women at increased risk of preterm birth due to pesticide exposures. Our central hypothesis is that prenatal pesticide exposure is associated with reduced abundance of Lactobacilli in the vaginal microbiome, contributing to an increased risk for preterm birth. We aim to determine 1) associations between prenatal pesticide exposures and odds of preterm birth, 2) associations between prenatal pesticide exposures and vaginal microbiome profiles throughout pregnancy, and 3) associations between the prenatal vaginal microbiome and preterm birth. As an exploratory analysis, we wil estimate whether the prenatal vaginal microbiome mediates associations between pesticide exposures and pregnancy complications. The Children’s Health and Environment Study (CHES) is a large, well-characterized birth cohort that has previously measured pesticide panels (including organophosphates, glyphosate, pyrethroids, and neonicotinoids) in prenatal urine samples and has phenoytped preterm births into spontaneous versus iatrogenic subtypes through medical record review. Moreover, the CHES biobank includes vaginal swabs collected repeatedly across pregnancy that will undergo 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing. This project will provide new evidence on associations between prenatal pesticide exposure, the vaginal microbiome, and the risk of preterm birth from a well-powered cohort. This proposal aligns closely with the NIEHS strategic plan given its focus on establishing an evidence base for precision environmental health interventions targeting the vaginal microbiome.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $832,533 )
2026	2026	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	550 1ST AVE	NEW YORK	NY	10016	NEW YORK	USA	Environmental Health	000	1	9/7/2026	NEW	$832,533
														Subtotal = $832,533

Grand Total All Awards = $832,533

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Impact of Prenatal Pesticide Exposures on the Vaginal Microbiome and Pregnancy Outcomes

Award Number: R01ES038174

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/07/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2031

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