Understanding how women's bodies respond to severe aortic stenosis to improve treatment outcomes
Official title: Leveraging Sexual Dimorphism to Predict Cardiac Remodeling and Enhance Treatment in Women with Severe Aortic Stenosis
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10870456 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how severe aortic stenosis affects women differently than men, with the hope of creating better, personalized treatment plans for women to improve their heart valve replacement procedures.
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 | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $223,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HL173731-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10870456 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis who may benefit from personalized treatment approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not women or those with mild aortic stenosis may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the unique ways in which severe aortic stenosis affects women, who often face delayed diagnosis and treatment compared to men. By utilizing advanced medical imaging and computational modeling techniques, the study aims to uncover sex-specific differences in heart function and structure. The goal is to develop personalized treatment strategies that take into account these differences, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of aortic valve replacement procedures for women. Patients may benefit from improved diagnostic tools and tailored treatment plans based on their individual anatomical and functional characteristics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better treatment outcomes and survival rates for women suffering from severe aortic stenosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that sex-specific approaches in cardiovascular treatment can lead to improved outcomes, suggesting this study's approach is promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rikhtegar Nezami, Farhad — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rikhtegar Nezami, Farhad
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aortic valve calcium and risk of severe aortic stenosis in people over 75
This project looks at how common calcium on the aortic valve is in people over 75 and which factors make it more likely to progress to severe aortic narrowing.
-
Predicting heart changes to improve care for women with severe aortic stenosis
This project uses advanced medical imaging and computer models to better predict how women's hearts remodel from severe aortic stenosis so care can be more personalized.
-
Investigating aortic valve calcium and its risks in older adults
This study is looking at how common aortic valve calcification is in people aged 75 and older and how it might lead to serious heart problems, with the goal of finding ways to help those at higher risk.
-
Investigating how stiffening of the aorta from elastin loss causes SVAS
A new NIH grant is exploring why elastin loss leads to supravalvular aortic stenosis and how abnormal smooth muscle cell signaling causes the aorta to narrow in children.
-
Risk prediction for aortic stenosis and how statins might help in adults 75 and older
This grant seeks to identify which adults over 75 are at high risk for aortic valve disease and how statin therapy could influence that risk.
-
AI-powered screening and monitoring for aortic stenosis in older adults
A powerful new AI-based approach uses a simple heart rhythm test and a hand-held ultrasound to detect and monitor advanced aortic valve narrowing in people aged 65 and older.
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.