Using a natural compound to treat calcific aortic valve disease
Official title: Develop natural compound emodin as a novel therapy for calcific aortic valve disease
Funded at Acepre, LLC · NIH-10822082 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new treatment for calcific aortic valve disease, a heart condition that many older adults face, by using a natural compound called emodin to see if it can help stop or even reverse the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Acepre, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | September 16, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $299,953 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HL172481-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10822082 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those over 65 years of age, who are at risk for or currently suffering from calcific aortic valve disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 65 years or those with other forms of heart disease unrelated to calcific aortic valve disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), a serious heart condition that affects many older adults. The study aims to develop a novel therapy using a natural compound called emodin, which has shown promise in blocking the progression of valve calcification in laboratory settings. Researchers will investigate how this compound interacts with valve cells to potentially halt or reverse the disease process. The approach includes both in vitro assays and animal models to better understand the effectiveness of emodin in treating CAVD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new non-surgical treatment option for patients suffering from calcific aortic valve disease.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of emodin in this context is novel, previous research has indicated that targeting TGFβ signaling may be a promising approach for treating calcific aortic valve disease.
Where this research is happening
-
Acepre, LLC
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Azhar, Mohamad — Acepre, LLC
- Study coordinator: Azhar, Mohamad
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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GATA4's role in why some hearts are born with two valve cusps
A study in mice and human genetics will look at how a specific GATA4 gene change leads to bicuspid aortic valve and related heart problems.
-
AI-guided prediction of aortic valve disease progression using CT scans
A patient-friendly AI tool analyzes CT angiography data to predict how quickly aortic valve disease may advance and the risk of complications after valve replacement.
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Small molecule therapy for calcific aortic valve disease
A new drug candidate is being studied to slow or stop calcification of the aortic valve in adults with valve disease.
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Understanding and treating congenital aortic valve problems
This project develops medicines targeting the genetic and molecular causes of malformed aortic valves to help people born with bicuspid or other congenital valve problems avoid or delay surgery.
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Understanding why some people with calcific aortic valve disease develop atherogenic vs non-atherogenic patterns
This NIH-funded project explores why some people with aortic valve disease have accompanying atherosclerosis while others do not, using human genetics, proteomics, and imaging data to uncover differences that could lead to better treatments.
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Lab-grown models of how aging and sex affect aortic valve narrowing
Researchers will build lab-grown heart valve models that mimic aging and male/female differences to learn why older adults develop aortic valve narrowing.
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.