Understanding heart disease differences between men and women using advanced models.
Official title: Modeling Sex-Specific Cardiac Hypertrophy-on-a-Chip
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11001590 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how heart diseases affect men and women differently, especially after menopause, using special technology to better understand these differences so that future treatments can be more personalized and effective for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 21, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $223,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HL168656-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11001590 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include postmenopausal women who are at risk for cardiovascular diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not postmenopausal or do not have cardiovascular disease may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) affect men and women differently, particularly focusing on the changes that occur after menopause. By utilizing innovative organ-on-a-chip technology, the study aims to create models that mimic the heart's physiological and pathological conditions, allowing researchers to explore sex-specific responses to heart disease. The goal is to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies by incorporating these differences into cardiovascular research. Patients may benefit from insights gained through this research that could lead to more tailored and effective treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized treatment strategies for heart disease in women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using organ-on-a-chip technology has shown promise in modeling various diseases, suggesting potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Y. Shrike — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Y. Shrike
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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.