Endothelial SR-BI: How it’s turned on and who it partners with to drive artery plaque
Official title: Endothelial Cell SR-BI Regulation and Novel Protein Partners in Atherosclerosis
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11398175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at UT Southwestern will explore how a specific endothelial protein (SR-BI) is turned on in high-cholesterol and stressed blood flow conditions and which partner proteins help it move LDL into artery walls.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $756,830 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL181134-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults at risk for cardiovascular disease with high cholesterol or signs of atherosclerosis, who could contribute samples or participate in related future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cardiovascular risk factors or existing atherosclerosis may not directly benefit from this basic mechanism study.
What this research studies
Researchers will investigate how high cholesterol and disturbed blood flow increase SR-BI in endothelial cells and identify the protein partners that enable LDL to move into the artery wall. They will use in vivo models, transcriptional analysis, mass spectrometry, and LDL transcytosis assays to map regulatory pathways and interactions. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that promote atherosclerosis so future therapies can target these steps. This work could lead to strategies to reduce plaque formation and lower heart attack and stroke risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform new approaches to prevent or slow atherosclerosis by interrupting SR-BI–mediated LDL transport.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked SR-BI with LDL movement and atherosclerosis in animal and human data, supporting potential translational relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaul, Philip W — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Shaul, Philip W
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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.