Understanding why blood vessels age and how to keep them healthier
Integrative Mechanisms of Vascular Aging
This research is testing whether restoring protective sugars on the inner lining of blood vessels can improve artery function in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11243475 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will hear about work focused on the glycocalyx, the thin sugar-rich coat on the inside of blood vessels, and how it changes with age. The team will study how shifts from high‑molecular‑weight hyaluronan (HMW‑HA) to smaller fragments and changes in HAS2 enzyme activity affect artery dilation and stiffness. They will use laboratory experiments in mice, molecular tools including antibodies, and analyses of human tissue samples to measure vessel flexibility, nitric oxide signaling, and inflammation. The goal is to find approaches that protect or rebuild the vessel lining to help arteries work better as people age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related trials would be older adults showing signs of arterial stiffening or reduced endothelium-dependent dilation.
Not a fit: People with vascular problems caused by congenital structural defects or acute non‑vascular illnesses are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to therapies that restore the vessel lining and improve arterial flexibility and blood flow in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and early human studies show the glycocalyx thins with age and that HMW‑HA can be vasoprotective, but turning those findings into treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Donato, Anthony John — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Donato, Anthony John
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.