Investigating how blood flow affects lung vessel growth in children with heart defects

Pulmonary vascular glutamine metabolism at the intersection of hemodynamic forces and smooth muscle proliferation in congenital heart disease

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10892703

This study is looking at how congenital heart disease affects the lungs of children and can lead to high blood pressure in the lungs, with the hope of finding better treatments for those kids.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-10892703 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding the biological changes that occur in the lungs of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) that lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The team aims to identify the metabolic and signaling pathways that are disrupted due to abnormal blood flow and pressure in the pulmonary vessels. By using a specialized animal model that mimics CHD, the researchers will explore how these changes contribute to excessive growth of smooth muscle in the blood vessels. The goal is to uncover the underlying mechanisms that could lead to better treatments for affected children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old who have been diagnosed with congenital heart disease.

Not a fit: Patients with congenital heart disease who are older than 11 years or those without pulmonary arterial hypertension may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that more effectively target the root causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children with congenital heart disease.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding pulmonary vascular responses in similar conditions, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.