Understanding Carnosine's Role in Leg Artery Disease
Official title: Role of carnosine in peripheral arterial disease
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11169978 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores if a supplement called carnosine can help improve leg function for people with peripheral arterial disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $645,860 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163419-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11169978 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease who experience defects in skeletal muscle metabolism and reduced limb function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without peripheral arterial disease or those whose condition does not involve the specific metabolic defects targeted by carnosine may not receive benefit.
What this research studies
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a serious condition affecting the arteries in the lower legs, often leading to pain and difficulty walking. Current treatments are often not very effective, and even surgical options like stents can sometimes fail. This project looks at how carnosine, a natural substance found in muscles, might help address the underlying muscle problems in PAD, such as poor metabolism and increased acidity. We believe carnosine could improve muscle function, reduce harmful substances, and help new blood vessels grow. We plan to give carnosine supplements to people with PAD to see if it improves their leg function and to understand exactly how it works.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a new, non-surgical treatment option to improve leg function and quality of life for individuals with peripheral arterial disease.
How similar studies have gone: While previous lab evidence suggests carnosine's benefits in buffering, chelation, and angiogenesis, its effectiveness as a therapeutic supplement for improving limb function in PAD patients is being directly tested here.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baba, Shahid P — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Baba, Shahid P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Contrast-free ultrasound to measure tiny blood flow in legs to help PAD
A noninvasive ultrasound approach uses new metrics to quantify microvascular blood flow in the lower leg to aid in diagnosing and managing peripheral arterial disease.
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Understanding Spp1+ Macrophages and Muscle Healing in Peripheral Artery Disease
This grant supports a physician-scientist in Duke's vascular surgery program to study how a specific macrophage type called Spp1+ macrophages affect muscle healing in people with peripheral artery disease.
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Reprogrammed Monocytes for improved blood vessel growth in leg PAD
A study to see if reprogramming a patient’s own monocytes can boost new blood vessel growth and improve limb health in people with peripheral artery disease.
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Targeting Dhcr24 in monocytes to boost blood vessel growth in critical limb ischemia
This grant explores a new way to help people with severe leg artery disease by making certain immune cells grow more blood vessels to improve blood flow.
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Carnosine and improved leg function in peripheral artery disease
This grant tests whether taking carnosine can improve leg function for people with peripheral artery disease.
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Understanding how CKD worsens leg artery disease at the cellular level
This grant explores why people with chronic kidney disease have faster, more severe peripheral artery disease and how specific cellular pathways contribute to worse blood flow and limb risk.
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.