Understanding LMOD1, a protein that helps artery muscle cells stay healthy
Function and Transcriptional Regulation of Leiomodin1
This research looks at how the LMOD1 protein keeps artery muscle cells stable and how changes in it may lead to coronary artery disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247955 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use new genetically engineered mice and cell-level methods to remove or increase LMOD1 and watch how artery smooth muscle cells change over time. They will combine imaging, spatial gene mapping, and electron microscopy to see cell structure and identity in affected arteries. The team will use CRISPR to delete a specific DNA control region and study how LMOD1 is turned on or off, plus examine interactions with proteins involved in ribosome production. Some experiments are tied to human genetics linking LMOD1 to coronary artery disease, so findings may connect mouse results to human disease biology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with or at high risk for coronary artery disease, or those known to carry LMOD1-related genetic variants, would be the most relevant candidates for sample donation or future clinical follow-up.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to arteries or coronary disease are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat coronary artery disease by protecting or restoring healthy artery muscle cells.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies support that artery muscle cell state changes contribute to vascular disease and early lab data link LMOD1 to these changes, but targeting LMOD1 directly is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Augusta, United States
- Augusta University — Augusta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miano, Joseph M — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Miano, Joseph M
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.