Regulation of capillary blood flow by thin-stranded pericytes
Official title: REGULATION OF CAPILLARY HEMODYNAMICS BY THIN-STRANDED PERICYTES
Funded at University of Nevada Reno · NIH-11403992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how thin-stranded pericytes help control blood flow in tiny vessels and how their signals respond to pressure and nerve activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nevada Reno NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Reno, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $653,099 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL177084-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly in this stage; the grant is a basic science study conducted in laboratory settings.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation is required for this basic mechanistic study.
What this research studies
This project looks at specialized cells called thin-stranded pericytes that wrap around small blood vessels and may change how fast blood flows through tissues. Researchers will identify the channels and signaling pathways that let these cells constrict vessels slowly when pressure increases. They will also explore whether the long extensions of these cells sense pressure changes and neural activity, then communicate back to the cell body to coordinate responses. The goal is to connect cell behavior with microvascular blood flow in living tissue, which could affect tissue oxygen delivery and health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new ways to treat diseases involving microvascular blood flow and tissue perfusion.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows pericytes regulate capillary flow, with preliminary data suggesting distinct subtypes have different roles.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nevada Reno
Reno, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gonzales, Albert Louis — University of Nevada Reno
- Study coordinator: Gonzales, Albert Louis
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
New retinal imaging to detect brain small vessel disease
A fast, wide-field eye imaging method will measure how tiny retinal blood vessels rhythmically flow to help detect early brain small vessel disease.
-
Platelet markers and blood flow to predict recurrent stroke in intracranial artery disease
Researchers will look at how a platelet protein (FcγRIIa) and blood flow patterns from CT angiography predict who might have another stroke after a minor stroke or TIA caused by intracranial artery disease.
-
Statistical methods to link high-dimensional heart-surgery data with outcomes
This grant tests advanced data methods to find links between detailed intraoperative heart-surgery measurements and patient outcomes after procedures like CABG.
-
Sex differences in high blood pressure, thinking skills, and kidney function tied to B cells and autoantibodies
This research looks at how sex and pregnancy-related antibodies may influence high blood pressure, thinking abilities, and kidney blood flow in adults.
-
Dual-setting airway device to support heart attack survivors and after-resuscitation patients
A new adjustable breathing aid device helps improve blood flow and brain protection during and after cardiac arrest, aiming to increase survival with good brain function.
-
Impact of LVAD on Brain Blood Flow and Thinking
This grant tests how left ventricular assist devices affect brain blood flow and thinking abilities in adults with advanced heart failure.
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.