New blood-vessel muscle progenitor cells linked to artery and lung disease
Novel vascular smooth muscle cell progenitors in development and disease
Researchers are studying how special precursor cells create extra muscle in blood vessels that can worsen atherosclerosis and pulmonary hypertension, aiming to help people with those conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11128374 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research follows where the cells that make blood-vessel muscle come from and how they are triggered to multiply and move into artery plaques. The team uses mouse models with genetic labeling, cell tracing, and bone marrow experiments to see how immune cells influence those precursor cells. By mapping the signals that make these cells change identity and expand, they hope to find points where future drugs could block harmful vessel remodeling. Results are foundational lab work intended to guide later human-focused therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or pulmonary hypertension, or those at high risk for these vascular conditions, would be the likely future candidates for therapies stemming from this work.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to blood-vessel remodeling or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or reduce harmful vessel muscle growth in atherosclerosis and pulmonary hypertension, enabling better treatments down the line.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal and cell studies have shown that smooth muscle progenitors and immune signals can drive vessel remodeling, but translating those findings into human treatments is still early and largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Greif, Daniel — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Greif, Daniel
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 below.