Estrogen receptor alpha in smooth muscle and aging arteries
Official title: The sexually dimorphic role of smooth muscle cell estrogen receptor alpha in vascular aging
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11370324 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant investigates how estrogen receptor alpha in artery walls affects aging-related stiffening, with a focus on differences between men and women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 10, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $680,908 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL160834-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370324 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults with vascular aging concerns, especially postmenopausal women and older adults at risk for arterial stiffness.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without vascular aging concerns or those not considering cardiovascular health as they age may not benefit.
What this research studies
Aging people often develop stiffer arteries, which raises heart and brain risks. The project looks at why women may experience this stiffness later in life and how estrogen receptor alpha in smooth muscles might influence this process. Researchers will study aging mice and human data to understand how estrogen signaling and a molecule called PARP1 interact with protective receptors in the blood vessels. The goal is to identify mechanisms that drive vascular aging and could point to new ways to protect vessel health as people age.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new approaches to prevent or reduce arterial stiffening and related cardiovascular risks in aging women and men.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in aging mice suggest sex-specific differences in arterial stiffness and estrogen signaling, indicating the approach has promising relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dupont, Jennifer — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Dupont, Jennifer
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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.