RUNX3 and changes in artery walls
Official title: RUNX3 in Vascular Wall Remodeling
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Ctr at Tyler · NIH-11258536 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether changing the RUNX3 protein can stop artery wall cells from turning into an overgrown, disease-causing state in adults with artery disease or after angioplasty.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Ctr at Tyler NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tyler, United States) |
| Project start | January 5, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $425,215 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166906-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11258536 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, hypertension, aneurysm, or patients who have had or will have angioplasty would be the most relevant candidates to contribute samples or be considered for future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without vascular disease, children, or those whose conditions are not driven by smooth muscle cell remodeling are unlikely to benefit directly from this work in the near term.
What this research studies
Researchers will change RUNX3 levels in vascular smooth muscle cells in the lab and expose those cells to growth signals like PDGF-BB to see how they respond. They will measure contractile markers, cell proliferation, and signaling molecules such as myocardin/SRF and c-Myc to understand how RUNX3 controls the cell switch. The team will use cell-based experiments and may use animal models to study how RUNX3 affects artery wall remodeling. Results will be used to guide future ways to prevent restenosis after angioplasty or slow atherosclerosis progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that prevent artery narrowing and complications after angioplasty by targeting RUNX3-driven changes.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies have long shown that PDGF-BB drives smooth muscle cell changes and the investigators' preliminary data link RUNX3 to that process, but targeting RUNX3 as a therapy is novel and has not yet been tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Ctr at Tyler
Tyler, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guo, Xia — University of Texas Hlth Ctr at Tyler
- Study coordinator: Guo, Xia
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Lipid damage and a form of cell death that turns on blood clotting
This grant explores how certain lipid byproducts and inflammatory cell death trigger tissue factor to start dangerous blood clots, with the aim of finding targets to prevent clot-related heart and vessel problems.
-
Targeting Runx3 to treat a serious immune disease in children
A new approach aims to help kids with a dangerous immune condition by targeting Runx3 to calm overactive immune cells.
-
Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention, and Education
A regional center partner network is working to improve safety and health for agricultural workers and their communities through research, outreach, and translation of best practices.
-
Understanding how coronavirus spike proteins change shape to enter cells
A study to better understand how spike proteins on enveloped viruses change shape over time to help viruses enter cells and how antibodies recognize them.
-
Targeting inflammation and clot breakdown to boost empyema treatment
A patient-focused study tests a low-dose alteplase plus an inflammation-blocking peptide to improve drainage and survival for adults with empyema who can’t undergo surgery.
-
Gab2-MALT1 signaling and venous clots: a new path to safer therapies
A doctor-scientist team is studying how a specific cell signaling pathway (Gab2-MALT1) contributes to venous clots, with the aim of finding safer ways to prevent and treat them.
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.