How the protective gene TCF21 helps arteries resist heart disease
Official title: Causal variant association mechanisms in TCF21 binding coronary disease loci
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11243486 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how a protective gene called TCF21 changes artery wall cells in ways that may lower the risk of coronary artery disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2017 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $685,144 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL134817-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11243486 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with coronary artery disease or at high risk of it, especially those willing to provide blood or tissue samples for research, would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without coronary artery disease or those not willing to donate samples are unlikely to get direct benefit from participation in these laboratory-focused studies.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are using large genetic studies and single-cell analyses to learn how artery smooth muscle cells change into either protective or harmful cell types during atherosclerosis. They focus on the protective gene TCF21 and other genetic factors like ZEB2 and SMAD3 to find the DNA switches (enhancers) that control these cell fate choices. The team uses lab models, gene-editing tools, and animal studies to test which genetic variants drive harmful calcifying cell states versus protective fibrous cell states. The goal is to map causal genetic mechanisms that could point to new ways to prevent plaque progression and vessel calcification.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular targets to prevent harmful artery cell changes and reduce heart attacks and other complications of coronary artery disease.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies have already linked TCF21 to protective changes in smooth muscle cells, so this work builds on promising prior findings rather than testing a completely unproven idea.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Quertermous, Thomas — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Quertermous, Thomas
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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.