Investigating how copper transport affects blood vessel health and heart disease.
Official title: Role of Cu Transporter in EC Metabolism, ROS, and Atherosclerosis
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11103140 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how copper levels in your blood vessels can affect heart health, especially for people dealing with conditions like inflammation and diabetes, to find new ways to help prevent heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | June 5, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $462,000 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL160557-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11103140 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals at risk for cardiovascular diseases, particularly those with conditions like diabetes or chronic inflammation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with established atherosclerosis who are not responsive to changes in copper metabolism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of copper transport in endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, and how disturbances in copper metabolism can lead to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the buildup of plaque in arteries. The study focuses on the relationship between copper levels, glycolysis, and oxidative stress, particularly in the context of cardiovascular risk factors like inflammation and diabetes. By examining the function of a specific copper transporter, ATP7A, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms that link copper metabolism to heart disease, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights and treatments for preventing or managing atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific role of copper transport in endothelial dysfunction is less explored, related studies have shown promising results in understanding the metabolic processes involved in cardiovascular diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fukai, Tohru — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Fukai, Tohru
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
PFAS may speed up artery disease by changing bile acids
Aims to see if PFAS chemicals make cholesterol rise and arteries more likely to harden, using a human-similar mouse model to understand how this could affect people.
-
IgE antibodies to alpha-gal and heart disease in mice and people
A study to understand how specific IgE antibodies against alpha-gal might influence the development and severity of atherosclerosis in humans and mouse models.
-
Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 to Reduce High Lipids and Plaque in Adults with Diabetes
A new approach uses a modified FGF1 protein to lower bad cholesterol and prevent artery plaque buildup in adults with Type 2 diabetes, aiming for safer and more effective treatment.
-
Atherosclerosis in cocaine addiction: imaging risk with PET/MR
This project uses PET/MR imaging to look for early artery disease in people with cocaine use disorder to help prevent strokes or other brain injuries.
-
How low blood flow after brain artery narrowing affects the vessel lining
This work looks at whether areas of low blood flow downstream of narrowed brain arteries cause vessel lining damage and raise the chance of another stroke, for people with intracranial artery narrowing.
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.