BNP's role in heart disease and blood clots

BNP not just a biomarker of cardiovascular disease

NIH-funded research Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11321592

This research looks at whether the heart hormone BNP itself helps cause blood vessel changes and blood clots in people with heart failure or coronary artery disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionTexas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (College Station, United States)
Project IDNIH-11321592 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If I join, researchers will test how BNP affects blood vessels and clotting using lab experiments and animal models and may ask for blood samples to study my platelets. They will focus on the BNP receptor NPRA and the cGMP signaling pathway to understand how BNP might promote clot formation. The team will compare lab and animal results with clinical data from people who have high BNP or known heart disease. The work combines mouse experiments, laboratory platelet tests on human samples, and analysis of patient data to look for links between BNP levels and thrombotic events.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with heart failure, recent acute coronary syndrome (heart attack), atrial fibrillation, or persistently high BNP/NT-proBNP who can provide blood samples or clinical information.

Not a fit: People without cardiovascular disease or without elevated BNP levels are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If confirmed, this could lead to new ways to prevent or treat blood clots and related heart damage by targeting BNP or its receptor.

How similar studies have performed: Early lab and platelet studies in mice and humans have suggested BNP can promote clotting, but this is a relatively new finding that needs further confirmation.

Where this research is happening

College Station, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.