Understanding how different body systems affect heart disease
Official title: Organ system cross talk in ischemic heart disease
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11175974 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores if adjusting communication between certain stem cells can help treat heart disease caused by plaque buildup.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $485,992 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG086072-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11175974 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms of age-related heart disease, so direct patient participation is not currently sought.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment options for their heart disease may not directly benefit from this early-stage biological research.
What this research studies
Our bodies have different types of stem cells, including skeletal stem cells (SSCs) and blood-forming stem cells (HSCs), that communicate with each other. As we age, changes in SSCs might cause HSCs to become inflamed, which can contribute to the development of heart disease where plaque builds up in the arteries. This research aims to see if restoring the health of SSCs can rebalance HSCs and improve the function of their offspring cells that travel to blood vessels, potentially preventing the progression of atherosclerosis. The ultimate goal is to discover new ways to reverse age-related heart disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that reverse age-related heart disease by targeting the communication between stem cells.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified these stem cells in both mice and humans and shown that aged skeletal stem cells can contribute to inflammation in blood-forming stem cells, which is linked to heart disease.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nguyen, Patricia Kim Phuong — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Nguyen, Patricia Kim Phuong
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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.