Understanding how the aorta develops in Marfan syndrome affects aneurysm formation
Marfan Aortic Embryologic Origin Influences Aneurysm Formation
This project aims to understand why people with Marfan syndrome develop dangerous enlargements in their main heart artery, called aneurysms, by looking at how the artery's cells form.
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 ID | NIH-11056863 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
For people with Marfan syndrome, the main artery from the heart, called the aorta, can weaken and bulge, leading to life-threatening complications. We believe that the way certain cells in the aorta develop during early life might make some areas more prone to these bulges. Our team is using special cells grown from Marfan patients to study these differences and identify specific changes in the cells that contribute to the problem. By looking closely at these cells and their genetic activity, we hope to uncover the root causes of aneurysm formation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research focuses on understanding the disease mechanisms, so it is most relevant to patients with Marfan syndrome who may benefit from future drug development.
Not a fit: Patients without Marfan syndrome or similar connective tissue disorders are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted drug therapies to prevent or treat aortic aneurysms in patients with Marfan syndrome, potentially improving life expectancy and reducing the need for surgery.
How similar studies have performed: This approach builds upon recent findings that different cell origins influence disease and utilizes advanced techniques like iPSC technology and single-cell sequencing to explore novel mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fischbein, Michael Peter — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Fischbein, Michael Peter
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.