ZEB1's role in artery disease and smooth muscle cell changes
Official title: ZEB1 Mediated Coronary Artery Disease Risk in Vascular Smooth Muscle
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11398244 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how the ZEB1 gene affects coronary artery disease by its impact on smooth muscle cells in blood vessels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $165,548 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HL177173-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398244 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for or living with coronary artery disease who may benefit from future targeted therapies related to smooth muscle cell biology.
✕Less likely to help
People without CAD risk factors or those not pursuing future gene- or epigenetic-based therapies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand how ZEB1 influences the behavior of smooth muscle cells during artery disease, focusing on how these cells change and contribute to plaque formation. Researchers will use human-relevant cell and tissue models, including ATAC sequencing to explore gene regulatory changes. The work seeks to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new treatments for CAD beyond cholesterol lowering, potentially translating into targeted therapies for patients with CAD risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new targets to prevent or treat coronary artery disease by modulating smooth muscle cell behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work linking ZEB family genes to CAD risk suggests a promising, but still exploratory, path toward therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Daniel Yuhang — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Li, Daniel Yuhang
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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.