Small molecule therapy for calcific aortic valve disease
Official title: Small molecule therapeutic for calcific aortic valve disease
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11325033 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new drug candidate is being studied to slow or stop calcification of the aortic valve in adults with valve disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $782,141 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163268-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325033 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with calcific aortic valve disease, especially those with bicuspid aortic valve or age-related valve changes, who can provide cells or participate in translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without calcific aortic valve disease or those who do not meet safety or eligibility criteria for early-stage translational work may not benefit.
What this research studies
This NIH grant supports testing a small molecule that may prevent or reduce abnormal valve cell changes that lead to calcific aortic valve disease. Researchers will use patient-derived cells, gene networks, and machine learning to identify how the drug shifts valve cells away from bone-like behavior. The goal is to develop a medical treatment that can complement or reduce the need for valve replacement in people with aortic valve stenosis. The work focuses on people with bicuspid aortic valves and aging-related valve changes, aiming to translate findings toward clinical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the therapy could provide a medical option to slow or halt valve calcification, improving heart valve function and reducing invasive procedures.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies using patient-derived cells and NOTCH1-related pathways have shown that targeting valve cell fate can modify disease processes, supporting potential for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Srivastava, Deepak — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Srivastava, Deepak
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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GATA4's role in why some hearts are born with two valve cusps
A study in mice and human genetics will look at how a specific GATA4 gene change leads to bicuspid aortic valve and related heart problems.
-
AI-guided prediction of aortic valve disease progression using CT scans
A patient-friendly AI tool analyzes CT angiography data to predict how quickly aortic valve disease may advance and the risk of complications after valve replacement.
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Understanding and treating congenital aortic valve problems
This project develops medicines targeting the genetic and molecular causes of malformed aortic valves to help people born with bicuspid or other congenital valve problems avoid or delay surgery.
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Understanding why some people with calcific aortic valve disease develop atherogenic vs non-atherogenic patterns
This NIH-funded project explores why some people with aortic valve disease have accompanying atherosclerosis while others do not, using human genetics, proteomics, and imaging data to uncover differences that could lead to better treatments.
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Lab-grown models of how aging and sex affect aortic valve narrowing
Researchers will build lab-grown heart valve models that mimic aging and male/female differences to learn why older adults develop aortic valve narrowing.
-
Cadherin-11's role in aortic valve calcification
This project looks at whether blocking a protein called cadherin-11 can stop or even reverse calcium buildup in the aortic valve of older adults with aortic stenosis.
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.