A copper transporter change that may protect your arteries
Official title: Cu importer CTR1 Cys189 oxidation in atherosclerosis
Funded at Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center · NIH-11247539 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether a small chemical change to a copper-transporting protein in blood-vessel cells can help protect people with or at risk for atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2011 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX001232-16 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247539 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, or who are at increased risk for plaque buildup — particularly older adults and Veterans — would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with non-atherosclerotic vascular conditions, acute emergency cardiac events, or unrelated health issues are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will study a protein called CTR1 that moves copper into the lining of blood vessels and whether a specific chemical switch (oxidation at Cys189) affects cell aging, inflammation, and a form of cell death linked to artery disease. They will run lab tests on human artery cells, examine samples from atherosclerotic plaques, and use animal models to track copper levels, mitochondrial health, and inflammatory signals. The team will compare these lab and tissue findings with disease markers to connect the mechanism to real-world atherosclerosis. The aim is to learn if changing CTR1 behavior can reduce vessel inflammation and slow plaque buildup.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new ways to reduce artery inflammation and slow plaque growth, lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Related laboratory and animal studies show that copper levels influence plaque and that copper chelation can reduce atherosclerosis in mice, but this specific CTR1 Cys189 oxidation mechanism is novel and has not been tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fukai, Tohru — Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Fukai, Tohru
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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.