What controls calcium buildup in blood vessels
The transcriptional control of vascular calcification in disease
This project looks at molecular changes that cause calcium to build up in blood vessels of people with chronic kidney disease to help identify new treatment targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295377 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is studying how certain fats, especially stearic acid, and its related molecules damage the cells that line blood vessels and lead to hard, calcified arteries. They focus on enzymes (like SCD and GPAT4) that change fat chemistry, and on stress and recycling pathways in vessel cells that go wrong. The work uses laboratory cell studies and experimental models to trace the steps from high phosphate and fat changes to calcification and to test ways to block those steps. The goal is to find drug targets that could stop or slow vascular calcification in people with chronic kidney disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with chronic kidney disease who are at risk of or show signs of vascular calcification would be the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: People without chronic kidney disease or whose vascular problems are due to unrelated causes may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new drugs that prevent or slow vascular calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and animal work supports the idea that stearic acid and its metabolites drive calcification, but translating these findings into human treatments remains untested.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miyazaki, Makoto — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Miyazaki, Makoto
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.