Stopping bone-like changes in blood vessels
Switch of Osteogenesis in Vascular Calcification
Seeing if blocking a cell protein called CDK1 can help blood vessel cells stay normal and reduce harmful calcification in people with diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11121849 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine individual blood-vessel cells' gene activity using single-cell RNA sequencing to find which cells have switched to a bone-like state. They will use a drug–gene matching tool (Connectivity Map) to find compounds that can flip those cells back toward a healthy endothelial identity. Laboratory models and human tissue samples will be used to test whether inhibiting CDK1 redirects these cells and lowers vascular calcification. The work is based at UCLA and aims to identify treatments that could prevent artery stiffening in diabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes who have or are at high risk for vascular calcification or artery stiffening would be the most likely candidates for related future trials.
Not a fit: People without vascular calcification or those whose artery disease has different causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to therapies that reverse or prevent vascular calcification in people with diabetes, lowering heart and circulation complications.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary lab studies reported by the team show CDK1 inhibition can redirect vessel cells and improve calcification in models, but applying this approach in humans is novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yao, Yucheng — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Yao, Yucheng
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.