How the small regulator miR-146a affects abdominal aortic aneurysm
Official title: Role of miR-146a in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11453518 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to see if boosting a natural genetic regulator called miR-146a can help slow or prevent growth and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms in people with this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $504,671 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL156957-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453518 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm, especially those undergoing surgical repair who could provide tissue or those being followed for aneurysm growth, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without an abdominal aortic aneurysm or those needing urgent surgical repair for a ruptured aneurysm are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study aneurysm tissue from patients and laboratory experiments in mice to learn how miR-146a helps keep aortic smooth muscle cells healthy. They will raise or lower miR-146a in mouse models that develop aneurysms using angiotensin II and a lysyl oxidase inhibitor, and will analyze gene activity with RNA sequencing to find important molecular targets. Because the team also examines human aneurysm samples, patients might be invited to donate tissue or clinical data for comparison. The overall aim is to identify drug-like strategies that mimic miR-146a to slow aneurysm progression without immediate surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to non-surgical treatments that slow AAA growth and lower the risk of rupture.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical animal work shows that miR-146a mimetics prevented aneurysms in mouse models, but this approach has not yet been tested in people.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Subramanian, Venkateswaran — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Subramanian, Venkateswaran
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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.