MEIS1’s role in vascular disease and changing artery cells
Official title: Function and Regulation of MEIS1 in Vascular Disease
Funded at Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport · NIH-11374585 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how MEIS1 controls vascular smooth muscle cell behavior in arteries affected by atherosclerosis and restenosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Shreveport, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL169827-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374585 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or those undergoing procedures like angioplasty, whose artery tissue or data can inform MEIS1-related mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without vascular disease or those not contributing tissue or data to the study may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
In people with artery disease, smooth muscle cells in vessel walls can change their state in ways that worsen the condition. The researchers have found that MEIS1 may turn on the Myocd gene, which helps keep these cells in a healthy state, and MEIS1 is lower in diseased arteries. The project will study how MEIS1 binds DNA and regulates gene activity in vascular cells, aiming to map the signals that drive pathological changes. By understanding this pathway, the team hopes to identify new targets to prevent or reduce vessel narrowing. The work uses human tissue data and in vivo models to connect basic biology to potential therapies for ASCVD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could highlight new targets to prevent artery narrowing and restenosis, potentially leading to new treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Prior findings suggest MEIS1 can influence vascular cell behavior, but detailed in vivo regulation in human vessels is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
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Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
Shreveport, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salem, Amr — Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
- Study coordinator: Salem, Amr
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.