How macrophages (a type of immune cell) affect heart and blood vessel health
Macrophages in Cardiovascular Health
This work looks at how certain immune cells called macrophages change in people with heart and blood vessel disease to find safer ways to reduce harmful inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11264825 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use advanced single-cell imaging and genetic 'omics' tests on blood, bone marrow, and cardiovascular tissues to identify harmful macrophage types and their actions. They will study how risk factors cause the bone marrow to overproduce monocytes and how those cells change after entering arteries and the heart. Some experiments will use patient samples alongside experimental models to connect cell-level changes to artery instability and heart events. The goal is to reveal immune pathways that could be targeted without weakening the body's ability to fight infection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, or high cardiovascular risk who can provide blood or tissue samples and may travel to the study site.
Not a fit: People without cardiovascular disease or those looking for immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating in this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new immune-targeting treatments that lower heart attacks and artery problems without increasing infection risk.
How similar studies have performed: Immunotherapies have reshaped cancer care, and early laboratory work suggests macrophage-targeting in heart disease is promising but still largely unproven in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nahrendorf, Matthias — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Nahrendorf, Matthias
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.