Fortilin inhibitors for a new anti-atherosclerosis therapy
Official title: Mechanistic exploration of small molecule fortilin inhibitors for next-generation, non-lipid anti-atherosclerosis therapy
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11445620 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new type of small-molecule drug targets fortilin to reduce inflammation and fatty plaque buildup in arteries, offering a potential non-LDL approach for people at risk of heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $904,433 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL182875-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11445620 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with or at high risk for atherosclerosis who could participate in future translational studies involving anti-atherosclerotic agents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose atherosclerosis is driven by factors not addressed by macrophage survival or inflammatory pathways may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This grant aims to develop and understand small molecules that block fortilin, a protein that helps immune cells survive in artery plaques. Researchers will study how these inhibitors affect macrophages and plaque inflammation in animal models and use advanced imaging to see where the drugs work. The work materializes from prior discoveries that fortilin plays a role in atherosclerosis and that fortilin inhibitors can reduce disease in mice without changing cholesterol levels. If successful, these insights could guide future tests in people at risk of heart disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach proves effective, patients could benefit from a new non-LDL therapy that targets artery inflammation and plaque stability.
How similar studies have gone: Previous mouse studies show that fortilin inhibitors can reduce artery inflammation and plaque without changing cholesterol levels, suggesting promise for translation to humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fujise, Ken — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Fujise, Ken
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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.