Screening and treating early coronary plaque in young and middle-aged adults
Official title: 1/2 PREEMPT: Prospective RandomizEd Evaluation and Management of Premature aTherosclerosis
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11382094 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Duke-led study will test how best to screen for early heart artery plaque in adults under 60 and how different treatments might reduce that plaque.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | July 30, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $6,847,228 |
| NIH project number | 5UG3HL181434-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382094 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older who are at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and may have subclinical plaque detected by screening.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not have subclinical plaque detected or may not experience a measurable reduction in plaque during the study.
What this research studies
This study will enroll adults aged 21 and older who are at risk for atherosclerotic disease to see which screening approach best detects subclinical coronary atherosclerosis using imaging. It will compare three detection strategies with the goal of identifying plaque early in younger and middle-aged adults. If subclinical plaque is found, participants may receive treatments that target cholesterol and inflammation to reduce the disease burden. The answers from this trial could guide future screening and management to prevent heart attacks and strokes in a younger population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the trial could lead to better early detection and more effective, safer treatment strategies for preventing heart disease in younger adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that imaging-based screening can reveal subclinical disease, but this study tests optimized strategies specifically for younger and middle-aged adults.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pagidipati, Neha Jadeja — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Pagidipati, Neha Jadeja
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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.