Investigating genetic factors affecting limb health in African Americans with peripheral artery disease
Official title: Variant Determinants of African American Limb Pathology in Peripheral Arterial Disease
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11215039 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how genes affect leg health in African Americans with peripheral artery disease, and it wants to find out how different forms of the disease show up, so we can discover new ways to help improve blood flow and prevent serious problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $386,505 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL157659-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11215039 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are African American individuals diagnosed with peripheral artery disease, particularly those experiencing symptoms of intermittent claudication or critical limb ischemia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have peripheral artery disease or are not of African American descent may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how genetic variations influence limb health in African Americans suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD). It aims to explore the differences in disease manifestations, particularly between intermittent claudication and critical limb ischemia, which can lead to severe complications. By examining the role of specific proteins in muscle and blood vessel cells, the study seeks to identify potential therapeutic targets that could improve blood flow and prevent tissue loss. Patients may be involved in providing samples and data to help uncover these important genetic insights.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly improve limb health and reduce the risk of amputation for African American patients with PAD.
How similar studies have gone: While research on PAD has been ongoing, this specific approach focusing on genetic determinants in the African American population is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcclung, Joseph Matthew — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Mcclung, Joseph Matthew
Related research
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This grant explores a new way to help people with severe leg artery disease by making certain immune cells grow more blood vessels to improve blood flow.
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Understanding how CKD worsens leg artery disease at the cellular level
This grant explores why people with chronic kidney disease have faster, more severe peripheral artery disease and how specific cellular pathways contribute to worse blood flow and limb risk.
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.