Investigating how exercise affects blood flow and pain in patients with peripheral arterial disease
Official title: Nrf2 and the exaggerated Exercise Pressor Reflex in Peripheral Arterial Disease
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-10999419 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a strong exercise response affects blood flow and pain in people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which causes leg pain when you move, and aims to find ways to help improve blood flow and reduce that pain during exercise.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | December 11, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $564,745 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171602-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10999419 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease who experience intermittent claudication during physical activity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without peripheral arterial disease or those who do not experience exercise-induced leg pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the exaggerated exercise pressor reflex (EPR) in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which causes severe leg pain during physical activity. By studying a rat model of PAD, researchers aim to explore how this reflex affects blood flow and pain levels during exercise. The study will measure heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle blood flow in both PAD and control animals to identify the relationship between EPR, muscle ischemia, and pain. The ultimate goal is to determine if targeting the EPR can improve blood flow and reduce pain in patients with PAD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that alleviate exercise-induced pain and improve quality of life for patients with peripheral arterial disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding neural reflexes related to exercise can lead to significant advancements in treating conditions like PAD, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Hanjun — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wang, Hanjun
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Reprogrammed Monocytes for improved blood vessel growth in leg PAD
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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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Carnosine and improved leg function in peripheral artery disease
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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.