How the Notch4 signal controls new blood vessel growth
Notch in Angiogenesis and Vascular Biology
Researchers are testing whether blocking a blood-vessel signal called Notch4 can reduce harmful new blood vessel growth that contributes to vision loss, inflammation, and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11250050 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient viewpoint, this work looks at how a signaling protein called Notch4 in blood vessel cells drives new vessel growth in the developing eye, inflamed tissues, and tumors. The team removes Notch4 in mice or uses chemical blockers to see how vessels and nearby tissue change, including effects on tumor growth. They also use advanced molecular mapping (CUT&RUN) to find which genes Notch4 controls in endothelial cells. The goal is to define the signaling steps that could be targeted by new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with diseases driven by abnormal blood vessel growth — for example some forms of vision loss from retinal neovascularization, inflammatory vascular conditions, or solid tumors with vessel involvement — would be most relevant to this line of work.
Not a fit: People whose conditions do not involve abnormal blood vessel growth or whose tumors do not express Notch4 are unlikely to benefit from Notch4-targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new therapies that block harmful blood vessel growth in eye diseases, inflammatory conditions, and certain cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical mouse studies from this group and others show blocking Notch4 can reduce angiogenesis and slow tumor growth, but human testing of Notch4-targeted treatments has not been established.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kitajewski, Jan K. — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Kitajewski, Jan K.
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.