How fat in and around the body affects heart disease and inflammation in diverse groups
Official title: Epidemiology and Mechanisms Linking Ectopic Fat with Inflammation and Atherosclerosis
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11455106 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant investigates how excess fat storage in places like the liver and around the belly influences inflammation and heart disease risk, especially in South Asian Americans and other populations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,139,171 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL184083-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11455106 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People from diverse backgrounds, including South Asian Americans, who have or are at risk for ASCVD and variations in fat distribution.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without ASCVD risk factors or from populations not studied may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
The project follows people from MASALA and other groups to understand how ectopic fat in the body drives inflammation and plaque formation in arteries. It uses epidemiologic data and mechanistic studies in human samples to link specific fat depots with immune signaling and vascular inflammation. The study aims to identify immune signatures that reflect perivascular inflammation and plaque, and to test whether adipose tissue directly programs immune cells toward pro-atherogenic states. Results could clarify why ASCVD risk varies between populations and point to targeted prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to better risk prediction and personalized prevention for ASCVD by accounting for ectopic fat and immune signals across diverse populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in MASALA linked ectopic fat to ASCVD risk, and this project builds on those findings with deeper immune and mechanistic insight.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kandula, Namratha R — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Kandula, Namratha R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
PFAS may speed up artery disease by changing bile acids
Aims to see if PFAS chemicals make cholesterol rise and arteries more likely to harden, using a human-similar mouse model to understand how this could affect people.
-
IgE antibodies to alpha-gal and heart disease in mice and people
A study to understand how specific IgE antibodies against alpha-gal might influence the development and severity of atherosclerosis in humans and mouse models.
-
Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 to Reduce High Lipids and Plaque in Adults with Diabetes
A new approach uses a modified FGF1 protein to lower bad cholesterol and prevent artery plaque buildup in adults with Type 2 diabetes, aiming for safer and more effective treatment.
-
Atherosclerosis in cocaine addiction: imaging risk with PET/MR
This project uses PET/MR imaging to look for early artery disease in people with cocaine use disorder to help prevent strokes or other brain injuries.
-
How low blood flow after brain artery narrowing affects the vessel lining
This work looks at whether areas of low blood flow downstream of narrowed brain arteries cause vessel lining damage and raise the chance of another stroke, for people with intracranial artery narrowing.
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.