Non-invasive heart fat markers to predict ASCVD risk
Official title: Non-invasive detection of coronary inflammation using computed tomography in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Funded at Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center · NIH-11431415 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aging adults who don’t yet have heart disease may get a clearer picture of their risk by using CT scans to study fat around the heart and arteries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Torrance, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $852,991 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL188369-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11431415 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in the MESA cohort or similar populations who have undergone cardiac CT scans and have follow-up ASCVD data.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to CT imaging data or without longitudinal ASCVD follow-up may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project uses existing CT scan data from a diverse group of participants to look at how fat around the heart relates to future heart disease. Researchers will measure epicardial fat density and peri-coronary fat attenuation and link these markers to ASCVD outcomes over more than 20 years. The goal is to find early, inflammation-related signals that could guide prevention strategies for cardiovascular risk. The study relies on the large, well-characterized MESA dataset to uncover meaningful patterns that may inform future care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to better, non-invasive ways to identify people at higher ASCVD risk and tailor prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in imaging-based fat markers has shown potential, but longitudinal links to ASCVD risk are still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Budoff, Matthew J — Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Budoff, Matthew J
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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.