Understanding how the heart’s arteries grow and change to guide new CAD treatments
Official title: Intersecting clinical, genomic, and experimental investigation to understand the mechanisms and impact of coronary artery patterning
Funded at Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research · NIH-11387517 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores basic human biology to discover how coronary arteries form and adapt, with the aim of someday helping people with coronary artery disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $633,955 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171326-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387517 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or at risk for coronary artery disease, particularly those with various coronary artery patterns identified in clinical imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without CAD or those not undergoing coronary imaging or related evaluations may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how coronary arteries develop in embryos and how genetic differences influence artery patterning in adults. They plan to use human population genetics and preclinical experiments to identify pathways that control artery growth and natural bypass formation. The goal is to lay the groundwork for potential translational approaches that could lead to new ways to support or restore coronary blood flow in people with CAD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform new strategies to grow or reroute blood vessels in the heart, potentially reducing heart attack risk for people with advanced CAD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies linking embryonic vascular development to regenerative approaches show promise, but this project aims to translate that knowledge to human coronary patterning.
Where this research is happening
-
Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
Palo Alto, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Assimes, Themistocles L — Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
- Study coordinator: Assimes, Themistocles L
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.