How coronary arteries form and what causes congenital artery defects
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms in Coronary Artery Development and Anomalies
Researchers are figuring out how coronary arteries develop before and after birth so babies born with malformed arteries might get better, targeted treatments in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308659 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies how coronary arteries form during embryonic and perinatal heart growth, focusing on the specific cells that give rise to those vessels. The team traces a subpopulation of endocardial-derived progenitor cells and follows how they expand and become arteries using molecular, cellular, and imaging techniques in model systems and tissue samples. They focus on signaling pathways such as VEGF and NOTCH that guide angiogenesis and vessel growth in different heart regions. The overall aim is to identify key regulatory factors that could be targeted to prevent or treat congenital coronary artery malformations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would include newborns, infants, or children diagnosed with congenital coronary artery anomalies, or families willing to provide clinical information or tissue samples for research.
Not a fit: People with adult-onset, non-congenital coronary artery disease or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic developmental research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for therapies or diagnostics to prevent or repair congenital coronary artery defects in infants and children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies in animal models and tissue samples have shown roles for VEGF-NOTCH signaling and endocardial-derived progenitors in coronary formation, but translating these findings into human therapies has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Bin — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Bin
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 below.