Immunity and heart-kidney health in adults
Official title: The intersection of immunity and cardiovascular diseases
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11392993 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, patient-focused program will study how immune cells contribute to high blood pressure and autoimmune kidney and blood vessel disease in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,874,543 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL174442-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392993 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with hypertension or autoimmune conditions such as lupus or psoriasis may be eligible to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct personal benefit, depending on the specific study arm and responses.
What this research studies
This project looks at how immune cells become activated and cause organ damage in hypertension and autoimmune diseases, with a focus on the kidneys and blood vessels. Researchers will study specific immune peptides and the way human HLAs present them, aiming to pinpoint T cells involved in hypertension, lupus, and psoriasis. They will test an approach to detect peptides that trigger T cells in people with high blood pressure and related conditions. In a separate effort, the team will explore how salt intake promotes harmful immune processes in humans and whether a four-week treatment can improve salt sensitivity and vascular health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat kidney and blood vessel damage related to high blood pressure and autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown immune mechanisms contributing to hypertension and autoimmune pathology, with growing evidence supporting targeted immune interventions.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harrison, David G — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Harrison, David G
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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.