Blood stem cell changes linked to heart and artery disease
PROJECT 4: Somatic evolution of the hematopoietic system in cardiovascular disease
This project looks for tiny clonal changes in blood cells that may drive atherosclerotic heart and artery disease to help improve detection and future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11269231 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will develop a very sensitive blood test using microsatellite sequencing combined with deep targeted sequencing to find small clonal expansions in the blood, including those without known cancer-linked mutations. Researchers will apply this test to samples from people with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to see which clonal patterns are associated with disease. They will compare clones that carry known leukemogenic driver mutations to those without such mutations to determine which are likely harmful. The goal is to clarify links between blood cell clones and cardiovascular disease to guide better risk prediction and targeted therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or related risk factors who can provide blood samples or join observational follow-up.
Not a fit: People without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, those unwilling to provide blood samples, or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to blood tests that identify people at higher risk and new treatments that target harmful mutant blood cells.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies have linked clonal hematopoiesis to heart disease, but this project expands detection to mutation-free clones and thus explores a relatively new area.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Naxerova, Kamila — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Naxerova, Kamila
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 below.