Lab-grown models of how aging and sex affect aortic valve narrowing
Official title: Engineered models of age-related biochemical, biophysical, and hormonal changes to elucidate mechanisms of aortic valve disease onset
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11249117 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will build lab-grown heart valve models that mimic aging and male/female differences to learn why older adults develop aortic valve narrowing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $477,325 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL172046-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249117 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People most relevant to this work are older adults (especially those 65 and over) and men who are at higher risk for aortic valve narrowing.
✕Less likely to help
Younger people without valve disease or those seeking immediate treatment options would be unlikely to benefit directly from this lab-based work.
What this research studies
Researchers will create engineered tissue models that reproduce age-related biochemical, mechanical, and hormonal changes seen in older aortic valves. The team will include male and female features to study sex-specific differences in how the valve changes. They will compare effects of aged cells versus aged environments and incorporate flow conditions that mimic valve blood flow. The goal is to find early mechanisms that trigger aortic valve narrowing so future therapies can target them.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological targets to prevent or slow aortic valve narrowing and reduce the need for surgical valve replacement.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have modeled valve mechanics and cell behavior, but combining age-related biochemical, biophysical, and hormonal features with sex differences in engineered in vitro models is largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Masters, Kristyn S — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Masters, Kristyn S
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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.