Fixing tiny heart blood vessel problems in diabetic heart disease
Official title: Insights into Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11178607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work tests whether restoring a small molecule called miR-21 can bring small coronary arteries back to healthy widening and improve heart blood flow in adults with diabetes-related heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $638,872 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL165207-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with diabetes and signs of diabetic cardiomyopathy or coronary microvascular dysfunction—for example ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries or HFpEF.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetes or whose heart symptoms are caused mainly by large, obstructive coronary artery blockages are unlikely to benefit from this small-vessel–focused approach.
What this research studies
As a person with diabetes and heart concerns, this research looks at why the tiny arteries that supply the heart stop widening properly. The team uses diabetic mouse models and isolated small coronary arteries to compare normal dilation driven by nitric oxide (NO) versus an alternate chemical, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). They focus on miR-21, a small RNA that in mice can switch dilation back to NO, and will test whether restoring miR-21 improves myocardial blood flow and heart function. Results could point to new ways to treat small-vessel problems that cause chest pain and reduced heart performance in people with diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to treatments that restore healthy small-vessel dilation, improve blood flow to the heart, and reduce ischemic symptoms in people with diabetic heart disease.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical mouse work and clinical observations have shown the NO-to-H2O2 shift in diabetic coronary vessels and suggest miR-21 can reverse it, but therapies based on this mechanism have not yet been proven in people.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yin, Liya — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Yin, Liya
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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.