Understanding Stiff Arteries and Heart Disease
Biomimetic Vascular Matrix for Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Mechanobiology and Pathology
This project aims to understand how stiff arteries contribute to heart disease by looking at how cells in the artery walls behave.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129662 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Arterial stiffness is a major factor in heart and blood vessel diseases. When arteries become stiff, the cells within their walls, called vascular smooth muscle cells, can start to grow and move abnormally, leading to blockages. We want to discover how the material surrounding these cells influences this harmful process. Our work will explore how changes in artery stiffness affect these cells and contribute to conditions like atherosclerosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with conditions like arterial injury, atherosclerosis, or coronary disease, or those at risk for these conditions, are the ultimate focus of this foundational work.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to arterial stiffness or vascular smooth muscle cell behavior would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could uncover new ways to prevent or treat arterial stiffness, which is a key risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon preliminary data suggesting a key protein's role, indicating some prior success in related areas, but the overall approach to understanding ECM influence is novel.
Where this research is happening
Amherst, United States
- State University of New York at Buffalo — Amherst, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bae, Yongho — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Bae, Yongho
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.