New treatment for calcific aortic valve disease
Official title: Small molecule therapeutic for calcific aortic valve disease
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11085293 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for a new medicine to help people with calcific aortic valve disease, a heart problem that gets more common as we age, by using special cells from patients to find ways to stop heart valve cells from turning into bone-like cells, which causes the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $718,293 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163268-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085293 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults with calcific aortic valve disease, particularly those with a bicuspid aortic valve or genetic predispositions to the condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced calcific aortic valve disease who are not candidates for medical therapy or those who have already undergone valve replacement may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a small molecule therapeutic to treat calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), a condition that leads to severe heart issues and is increasingly common as the population ages. The approach involves using patient-specific cells to understand how valve cells transform into bone-like cells, which contributes to the disease. By screening a library of small molecules, researchers aim to identify compounds that can correct the underlying cellular changes associated with CAVD. This innovative strategy could provide a non-surgical treatment option for patients suffering from this condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new medical therapy that prevents or slows the progression of calcific aortic valve disease, reducing the need for surgical valve replacement.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using small molecules to target cellular mechanisms in heart diseases, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Srivastava, Deepak — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Srivastava, Deepak
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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GATA4's role in why some hearts are born with two valve cusps
A study in mice and human genetics will look at how a specific GATA4 gene change leads to bicuspid aortic valve and related heart problems.
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AI-guided prediction of aortic valve disease progression using CT scans
A patient-friendly AI tool analyzes CT angiography data to predict how quickly aortic valve disease may advance and the risk of complications after valve replacement.
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Small molecule therapy for calcific aortic valve disease
A new drug candidate is being studied to slow or stop calcification of the aortic valve in adults with valve disease.
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Understanding and treating congenital aortic valve problems
This project develops medicines targeting the genetic and molecular causes of malformed aortic valves to help people born with bicuspid or other congenital valve problems avoid or delay surgery.
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Understanding why some people with calcific aortic valve disease develop atherogenic vs non-atherogenic patterns
This NIH-funded project explores why some people with aortic valve disease have accompanying atherosclerosis while others do not, using human genetics, proteomics, and imaging data to uncover differences that could lead to better treatments.
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Lab-grown models of how aging and sex affect aortic valve narrowing
Researchers will build lab-grown heart valve models that mimic aging and male/female differences to learn why older adults develop aortic valve narrowing.
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.