Colon cancer, blood vessels, and smooth muscle changes linked by PDGFR-B signaling
Official title: Colon cancer mediates arterial remodeling through smooth muscle cell phenotypic changes via PDGFR-B signaling
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11371452 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is studying how colon cancer and cardiovascular disease interact, focusing on how cancer may influence artery walls through PDGFR-B signaling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $163,285 |
| NIH project number | 1K08HL181477-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371452 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with or at risk for both cancer and cardiovascular disease, or those providing tissue/cellular samples for related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cancer or cardiovascular disease may not directly benefit from the findings of this project.
What this research studies
This grant supports training a physician-scientist to combine animal models, lab experiments, and computer analyses to uncover how cancer and heart disease influence each other. The work focuses on vascular smooth muscle cells and their role in arterial remodeling, with a goal of translating findings toward new treatments. The training includes mentorship from experts in epigenetics, vascular biology, cardio-oncology, and computational genomics, plus coursework at reputable institutions. The project aims to build independent research skills that could lead to future therapies that benefit patients with both cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to new strategies to prevent or treat cardiovascular complications in cancer patients and possibly reduce cancer-related cardiovascular risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows meaningful links between cancer and cardiovascular disease, supporting the relevance of this cross-disciplinary approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bell, Caitlin Fox — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Bell, Caitlin Fox
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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.