PVAT and arteries: why some vessels resist plaque
Official title: The Role of Perivascular Adipose Tissue in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (PVAT-ASCVD)
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11401206 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how fat tissue around arteries influences atherosclerosis, especially why the left internal mammary artery stays healthy while others don’t.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $736,212 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL180833-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401206 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People undergoing or at risk for ASCVD, particularly those with interest in PVAT biology or CABG-related vascular health.
✕Less likely to help
Individual patients not directly contributing to PVAT research or those not undergoing CABG may have limited immediate benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies fat tissue around blood vessels (PVAT) in humans and mice to see how different arteries differ in their risk for plaque buildup. Researchers will identify adipocyte subtypes and communication signals in PVAT from the RCA and LIMA, and test how PVAT progenitors become fat cells in these vessels. They will also link thermogenic and anti-inflammatory gene patterns in PVAT with imaging biomarkers of inflammation and plaque. The goal is to uncover molecular traits in PVAT that shape atherosclerosis risk and graft success after surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding PVAT could lead to new ways to prevent or treat atherosclerosis and improve artery grafts.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows PVAT region differences influence vascular inflammation and disease risk, with some evidence of regional adipose variability.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tran, Khanh-Van Thi — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Tran, Khanh-Van Thi
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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.