Reprogramming blood-vessel lining cells in inherited brain aneurysms
Endothelial Cell Reprogramming in Familial Intracranial Aneurysm
This project aims to find out whether fixing gene-related changes in the cells that line brain arteries can lower aneurysm risk in people with a family history.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258496 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to share family and medical history and provide a blood sample for genetic sequencing. Researchers will compare genes from families with multiple aneurysms to find rare mutations, including changes in WBP11 and PPIL4. They will study how those mutations change the behavior of the cells that line brain blood vessels using lab-grown human cells and animal models to see why vessel walls weaken and bleed. The team hopes to use those findings to point to tests or new treatments that could help prevent aneurysm formation or rupture.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with a personal diagnosis of intracranial aneurysm or a strong family history of brain aneurysms, especially families with multiple affected relatives, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a hereditary form of aneurysm or those needing immediate clinical treatment to stop an active leak are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this lab-focused genetic research right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify people at higher hereditary risk and point to new ways to protect vessel walls or prevent aneurysm rupture.
How similar studies have performed: Previous genetic and animal studies have linked gene changes to aneurysm biology, but the roles of WBP11 and PPIL4 are newly identified and targeting them in patients remains untested.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gunel, Murat — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Gunel, Murat
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 below.