How blood vessel and immune cell metabolism shapes artery disease
Official title: Insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating vascular and immune metabolism in vascular diseases
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11245748 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how changes in energy use inside artery-lining cells, artery muscle cells, and immune cells affect people with atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $929,229 |
| NIH project number | 5R35HL155988-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11245748 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease or carotid plaque, who can provide blood or tissue samples during clinical visits or procedures would be the most relevant participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without atherosclerosis or those with unrelated health problems are unlikely to see direct benefits from this laboratory-focused research.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine the cells that line blood vessels (endothelial cells), the muscle cells in vessel walls (smooth muscle cells), and immune cells that collect in arterial plaques. They will focus on how shifts in cell metabolism and small regulatory RNAs called microRNAs change cell behavior and plaque stability, using lab-grown cells, animal models, and human tissue or blood samples. The team will test whether these metabolic pathways make plaques more likely to grow or rupture. The goal is to identify metabolic switches that could become targets for new treatments or diagnostics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to stabilize plaques and reduce heart attacks and strokes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies have shown that microRNAs and cellular metabolism affect vascular cells, but turning those findings into tested treatments for patients remains an early and active area of research.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Suarez, Yajaira — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Suarez, Yajaira
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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.