Using light therapy to treat aortic aneurysms
Official title: Photodynamic Therapy for Aortic Aneurysms
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10870978 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms using a special light therapy that might help strengthen the aorta and reduce inflammation, and it's for people who are dealing with this serious condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $287,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HL173856-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10870978 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysms who are at risk of complications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of aneurysms or those who do not have abdominal aortic aneurysms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), a serious condition with no current medical treatment. The approach involves applying light-sensitive agents that, when activated by light, can strengthen the tissue structure of the aorta and reduce inflammation. The study will assess changes in the extracellular matrix and immune cell populations in the aorta after treatment. By understanding how PDT affects these factors, the research aims to develop a new therapeutic strategy for AAA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel treatment option for patients suffering from abdominal aortic aneurysms, potentially reducing the risk of rupture and associated mortality.
How similar studies have gone: While the application of Photodynamic Therapy in this context is novel, similar approaches have shown promise in treating other conditions, suggesting potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oskowitz, Adam — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Oskowitz, Adam
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How cancer cells use exosomes to evade the immune system
This study is looking at how cancer cells use tiny bubbles called exosomes to hide proteins that can keep your immune system from fighting the tumor, and by figuring this out, the researchers hope to help doctors understand why some people respond well to cancer treatments while others don’t, ultimately aiming to creat
-
Reducing harm from smoking using electronic cigarettes
This study is looking at whether using electronic cigarettes can be a safer option for people who smoke traditional cigarettes, by comparing the health effects and exposure to harmful substances between the two.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Cutaneous opioid signals in skin inflammation
A mentor-identified clinician-researcher at UCSF is studying how natural skin opioids regulate itch and pain in inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and hidradenitis, with plans to map where these opioids come from and how they affect skin nerves.
-
Pooling international data to understand long-term bisphosphonate use and atypical femur fractures
This project combines large patient datasets from multiple countries to understand how long-term bisphosphonate use relates to rare hip and thigh bone fractures, helping doctors and patients make safer treatment choices.
-
Airway cell and immune cell talks in lung transplant failure
This grant tests how airway cells and immune cells interact to drive chronic rejection after lung transplant, with the goal of slowing or preventing scar-like damage.
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.