Cross-talk between bone and blood cells to fight clogged arteries
Official title: Organ system cross talk in ischemic heart disease
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11376063 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study from Stanford is testing whether renewing aging skeletal stem cells can reset immune cells and slow or stop atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $490,897 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG086072-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376063 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or those at risk, where bone-immune signaling could be targeted in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ASCVD or those not affected by inflammatory vascular processes may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will look at how signaling between skeletal stem cells and blood-forming stem cells influences inflammation and artery plaque in ASCVD. They will use animal models and human data to see if rejuvenating skeletal stem cells can rebalance immune cell production and reduce vascular damage. If the approach works, it could lead to a new way to treat age-related heart disease by targeting bone-blood cell communication.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new therapy that slows or prevents artery disease by rejuvenating bone-blood cell signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that bone-blood cell interactions influence inflammation and vascular disease, suggesting potential benefit but clinical translation remains uncertain.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nguyen, Patricia Kim Phuong — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Nguyen, Patricia Kim Phuong
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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.