NIH-funded research Career grant

Investigating the role of a protein in blood vessel diseases

Official title: The uncharacterized nuclear protein HMGXB4 in occlusive vascular diseases

Funded at Augusta University · NIH-10985592 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how a protein called HMGXB4 affects certain cells in your blood vessels, which could help us understand and find better ways to treat conditions like atherosclerosis and restenosis.

More Vascular Diseases research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionAugusta University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Augusta, United States)
Project startJuly 1, 2024
Project endJune 30, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$135,000
NIH project number1K99HL171834-01A1
Project IDNIH-10985592 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk for or diagnosed with occlusive vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease.

Less likely to help

Patients with non-vascular related conditions or those not at risk for occlusive vascular diseases may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how a specific protein, HMGXB4, affects the behavior of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in occlusive vascular diseases like atherosclerosis and restenosis. By studying how HMGXB4 influences the transition of VSMCs from a contractile state to a proliferative state, researchers aim to uncover the mechanisms behind these diseases. The approach includes analyzing samples from both humans and mice to see how HMGXB4 expression correlates with inflammation and disease progression. This could lead to new therapeutic strategies for managing vascular diseases.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that better manage or prevent occlusive vascular diseases.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the roles of similar proteins in vascular diseases, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • Augusta University
    Augusta, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: He, Xiangqin — Augusta University
  • Study coordinator: He, Xiangqin

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Topical HIF-1 inhibitors to treat retinal and choroidal vascular diseases

    A Johns Hopkins team is testing eye drops that block HIF-1 to help people with retinal and choroidal blood vessel problems respond better to treatment.

    NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11418368

  • A portable photoacoustic device to help diagnose vascular diseases

    A small, battery-powered imaging tool uses light and sound to help detect blood vessel problems at the point of care without harming patients.

    NIH research Pennsylvania State University, the · University Park, United States · NIH-11393173

  • Mitochondrial function and retinal blood vessel disease

    This grant explores how tiny power plants inside cells (mitochondria) influence the growth of retinal blood vessels in conditions like age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease, with the goal of finding new paths to protect vision.

    NIH research University of Virginia · Charlottesville, United States · NIH-11384336

  • How blood vessel and immune cell metabolism shapes artery disease

    This project looks at how changes in energy use inside artery-lining cells, artery muscle cells, and immune cells affect people with atherosclerosis.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11245748

  • Handheld light-and-sound scanner for blood vessel problems

    A portable device that uses safe light-plus-ultrasound imaging to find and monitor blood vessel problems for people with conditions like diabetes or peripheral artery disease.

    NIH research Pennsylvania State University, the · University Park, United States · NIH-11182724

  • How mitochondria affect retinal blood vessel health

    This project looks at whether problems in mitochondria change how blood vessels grow in the retina, which matters to people with conditions like diabetic retinopathy or other retinal blood-vessel diseases.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11143745

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.