Change gut and liver bile acids to lower heart disease risk
Targeting the gut-liver axis in cardiovascular disease
This project aims to change the types of bile acids made by the liver and in the gut to help lower harmful blood fats and reduce artery-clogging in adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235105 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join research that looks at how bile acids—natural detergents made by the liver—control how the gut absorbs dietary fats and how those fats affect artery health. The team will alter bile acid composition and measure effects on blood triglycerides, cholesterol, and markers of atherosclerosis using laboratory models alongside analyses of human-derived samples. Work will combine mechanistic lab studies with data or samples tied to people with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to link bile-acid changes to artery plaque formation. The overall aim is to find bile-acid–based ways to reduce lipid-driven progression of heart disease that could complement current cholesterol-lowering therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or with elevated blood lipids (including high triglycerides) would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without atherosclerosis, children, or individuals whose heart disease is caused primarily by non-lipid factors may not see direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new treatments that lower harmful blood fats and slow artery plaque buildup beyond existing LDL-focused drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Some bile-acid–targeting therapies (for example, bile acid sequestrants) have improved lipid profiles and drugs that modify bile-acid signaling show promise, but using bile-acid composition specifically to reduce triglyceride-driven atherosclerosis is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vallim, Thomas a — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Vallim, Thomas a
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.