CD11b's role in helping heart arteries repair themselves
Official title: Cell type-specific roles of integrin CD11b in atherosclerosis regression
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11395615 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant looks at how a specific immune cell receptor, CD11b, helps or hinders the natural reversal of artery plaque in a mouse model, with potential implications for people with atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $737,655 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL181475-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395615 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with atherosclerosis or at high risk for ASCVD who could benefit from therapies that promote plaque regression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without atherosclerosis or those not suitable for plaque-regression therapies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how CD11b on macrophages affects plaque regression in mice that mimic human high cholesterol. They will use genetically modified mice to see what happens when CD11b is deleted or re-expressed, aiming to map the cells and signals involved. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could be targeted to promote plaque cleanup and reduce heart disease risk in patients. The findings could guide future therapies that help patients experience plaque shrinkage rather than progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new approaches that help shrink artery plaques and lower heart disease risk in people.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that manipulating macrophage receptors can influence plaque dynamics, but this exact mechanism is being explored in this project.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Li — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Li
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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.