Mechanisms of sex-specific responses to sleep apnea therapies
Official title: Mechanisms of Sex-specific responses to obstructive sleep apnea Therapies (MoST)
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11446170 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at NYU School of Medicine is exploring how men and women may respond differently to treatments for obstructive sleep apnea and related heart risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $795,421 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL181640-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11446170 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with adult-onset diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular risk factors who have obstructive sleep apnea could be candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without sleep apnea, without cardiovascular risk factors, or those unable to tolerate any proposed interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at why sleep apnea and its treatments affect men and women differently, with a focus on how oxidative stress and antioxidants influence vascular health. Researchers will study the role of glutathione and the antioxidant NAC as possible safe alternatives to standard therapy in adults with obesity and diabetes-related risks. The study emphasizes translating findings into sex-specific approaches to reduce cardiovascular complications from sleep apnea, especially around menopause. Participants may contribute through clinical assessment, biomarker sampling, and adherence monitoring to identify meaningful differences between sexes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to sex-specific or alternative therapies for obstructive sleep apnea that improve cardiovascular outcomes for adults, particularly those at risk after menopause.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research supports a link between obesity, menopause, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular risk in sleep apnea, but sex-specific therapy responses remain an area with potential for progress.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aurora, Rashmi Nisha — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Aurora, Rashmi Nisha
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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.