Reprogrammed immune cells help improve blood vessel growth in patients with severe leg artery disease.
Official title: Reprogrammed Monocytes Improve Neovascularization in Peripheral Arterial Disease
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11019879 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changing certain immune cells in people with critical limb ischemia can help grow new blood vessels and improve blood flow in their legs, especially for those who can't have regular surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | March 4, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $528,179 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL176564-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11019879 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from critical limb ischemia who are not eligible for limb revascularization procedures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild peripheral artery disease or those who have already undergone successful revascularization may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), a severe form of peripheral artery disease that can lead to pain, gangrene, and amputation. The study investigates how reprogramming certain immune cells, called monocytes, can enhance the formation of new blood vessels in the affected limbs. By using a technique called ischemia training, researchers aim to improve blood flow and healing in patients who are not candidates for traditional surgical interventions. The approach involves understanding the role of specific enzymes and cellular mechanisms in promoting neovascularization.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new therapeutic option to improve blood flow and reduce the need for amputations in patients with severe leg artery disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using immune cell reprogramming for enhancing blood vessel growth, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lassance-Soares, Roberta Marques — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lassance-Soares, Roberta Marques
Related research
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This grant supports a physician-scientist in Duke's vascular surgery program to study how a specific macrophage type called Spp1+ macrophages affect muscle healing in people with peripheral artery disease.
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Reprogrammed Monocytes for improved blood vessel growth in leg PAD
A study to see if reprogramming a patient’s own monocytes can boost new blood vessel growth and improve limb health in people with peripheral artery disease.
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This grant explores a new way to help people with severe leg artery disease by making certain immune cells grow more blood vessels to improve blood flow.
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Understanding how CKD worsens leg artery disease at the cellular level
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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.