Understanding Cell Death in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Official title: Vascular smooth muscle cell ferroptosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11097177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how a specific type of cell death in blood vessel walls might contribute to abdominal aortic aneurysms, hoping to find new ways to prevent or treat this serious condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $689,072 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166203-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11097177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with or at high risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm, particularly adults aged 21 and older, could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose aneurysms are not related to the specific cell death pathway of ferroptosis may not directly benefit from this particular line of research.
What this research studies
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a serious condition where the main artery in your belly expands, and currently, surgery is often the only treatment. This project focuses on understanding why important cells in the blood vessel walls, called vascular smooth muscle cells, die off in AAA. We are exploring a specific type of cell death, called ferroptosis, which is linked to iron and fat damage, and how it contributes to the weakening of the aorta. Our goal is to uncover how risk factors like smoking might trigger this cell death and to identify new ways to protect these vital cells, potentially leading to new medicines to prevent or slow AAA growth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new medications that prevent, delay, or even reverse the growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms, offering alternatives to surgery.
How similar studies have gone: While preliminary studies show a link between GPX4 and AAA, this research explores ferroptosis as an underappreciated pathway, making the approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
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University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guo, Yanhong — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Guo, Yanhong
Related research
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-
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Scientists are studying how a molecule called MOF and inflammatory signals affect abdominal aortic aneurysms to find ways to slow or stop their enlargement.
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Using genetics to uncover how abdominal aortic aneurysms develop
A research team will study how genetic differences influence abdominal aortic aneurysm to help with earlier prevention and better treatment.
-
Phospholipid-based nanotherapies to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm
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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.