Investigating how aspirin affects weight and heart disease risk
Official title: Aspirin-triggered Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators in Increasing Weight and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11045727 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how taking a small daily dose of aspirin might help improve heart health for people who are overweight or have artery problems, by reducing inflammation and other risks related to heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $350,981 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL157430-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11045727 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are overweight or have a history of cardiovascular disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or do not have cardiovascular risk factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the effects of daily low-dose aspirin on cardiovascular health, particularly in relation to body weight. It examines how aspirin, while primarily used to prevent blood clots, may also influence inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with obesity and atherosclerosis. The study focuses on specialized lipid mediators that are produced when aspirin is taken, which may help reduce inflammation and improve heart health outcomes. By analyzing blood samples and health data, the research aims to uncover the relationship between aspirin use, body weight, and cardiovascular disease progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for using aspirin in preventing heart disease, especially in overweight individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that aspirin can reduce cardiovascular events in certain populations, but this specific approach focusing on body weight and inflammation is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heffron, Sean Patrick — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Heffron, Sean Patrick
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Integrative model of metabolites, equol, and heart disease
This grant looks at how a person’s body processes soy isoflavones into equol and how that relates to atherosclerotic heart disease, using complex data to build predictive models.
-
Lp(a) and HIV: Understanding Heart Disease Risk in HIV Patients
This program looks at how Lipoprotein(a) contributes to higher heart disease risk in people with HIV and what Lp(a) levels mean for future treatments.
-
PVAT and arteries: why some vessels resist plaque
Aims to understand how fat tissue around arteries influences atherosclerosis, especially why the left internal mammary artery stays healthy while others don’t.
-
How T cell genes and signals affect atherosclerosis
This grant studies how a specific immune cell and its signals influence atherosclerosis in people, aiming to uncover new ways to reduce inflammation and heart disease risk.
-
Understanding why some artery plaques become dangerous using genetics, tissue maps, and advanced imaging
Researchers will combine human genetic data with single-cell and spatial tissue maps to find why certain atherosclerotic plaques are more likely to cause heart events, aiming to improve prediction and prevention.
-
Opportunistic heart risk detection from abdominal CTs using robust AI
A doctor-scientist team at Stanford will use existing abdominal CT scans and medical records to build a trustworthy AI tool that helps predict future heart problems in adults.
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.