Manchester University to research the impact of CO on babies

The Carbon Monoxide Research Trust (CORT) has awarded funding to Manchester Metropolitan University to support a new PhD studentship investigating the impact of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure on blood vessel formation and function during foetal development.

Despite CO being a well-recognised environmental toxin, there remains a fundamental lack of understanding of its impact on vascular health and disease. This project will build on previous CORT-funded work at Manchester Met and aims to uncover how CO exposure affects the developing cardiovascular system, with a particular focus on the unborn child.

Research has already shown that even low levels of CO exposure—around 8ppm—can interfere with heart formation in embryos, leading to congenital heart defects. Moreover, CO has been linked to vascular dysfunction and increased risks of heart disease, vascular dementia, and deep vein thrombosis later in life.

Understanding how, why, and when these effects occur is critical to developing effective interventions and policies to protect public health.

The new study, led by Dr Liam Ridge and colleagues, will address three key objectives:
• Coronary vasculature formation: Mapping how CO affects the development and structure of blood vessels in the embryonic heart.
• Blood vessel growth and maturation: Investigating the processes of expansion, remodeling, and angiogenesis in the presence of CO.
• Vascular dysfunction: Exploring how CO disrupts vessel function, from clot prevention to contractile cell behaviour.

Gerarda Kendrick, Grants Lead at the Carbon Monoxide Research Trust, said:

“CO exposure can have a huge impact on vulnerable groups, and in particular during pregnancy. The extent to which it can affect a foetus and its developing heart is still not fully understood. Dr Ridge’s project will build on Manchester Met’s previous work and investigate how CO exposure affects blood vessels and their functionality. We are pleased to support this important research and to once again collaborate with Dr Ridge and his colleagues at the University.”

Dr Liam Ridge, Senior Lecturer in Cardiovascular Science at Manchester Metropolitan University, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to the Carbon Monoxide Research Trust for their ongoing support. Carbon monoxide is an invisible and often overlooked threat, yet its impact on the developing cardiovascular system could have lifelong consequences.
This funding will allow us to deepen our understanding of how CO affects the formation and function of blood vessels during one of the most critical stages of life. Our hope is that this project will ultimately lead to better protection for future generations.”

This award reaffirms CORT’s commitment to funding innovative research that deepens understanding of the health impacts of CO and contributes to better prevention, policy, and healthcare outcomes.