Why bicuspid aortic valves stiffen and collect calcium
Bicuspid Aortic Valve Biomechanics and Calcification
This project looks at how extra mechanical stress on bicuspid aortic valves leads to calcium buildup and earlier valve narrowing in people born with or living with a bicuspid valve.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11296908 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's point of view, the team will compare how blood flow and mechanical forces act on bicuspid versus normal three-leaflet aortic valves and where the valve cusps thicken and stiffen. They will study the cellular changes that make valve tissue behave like bone and lead to calcium deposits, and look at how different fusion patterns (for example, right/non-coronary cusp fusion) speed up this process. The work combines imaging, laboratory models, and biomechanical analysis to map regions of high stress and link them to early calcification. Their goal is to explain why many people with bicuspid valves develop stenosis years earlier than others.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people born with a bicuspid aortic valve—including adolescents and older adults—who can undergo imaging, provide clinical data, or donate valve tissue when available.
Not a fit: People without a bicuspid aortic valve or those who already require immediate valve replacement are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect high-risk bicuspid valves earlier and identify ways to slow or prevent valve calcification so fewer people need surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked abnormal valve mechanics to earlier calcification in bicuspid valves, but converting that knowledge into effective medical treatments remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lincoln, Joy — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Lincoln, Joy
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.