Award Details:
Award Type: Catalyst
Award #: C-095
Proposal Title: Endothelium-Derived Extracellular Vesicles MicroRNAs and Pulmonary Hypertension
PI(s): Usha Raj (UIC) and Jeffrey Hubbell (UChicago)
Award Amount: $250,000.00
Application Cycle: Round 28 (Fall 2019)
Award Start Date: May 1, 2020
Award End Date: April 30, 2022
Abstract:
In Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) the lung blood vessels get narrowed due to overgrowth of muscle cells in their walls leading to eventual heart failure and death. Existing treatments provide limited relief and no cure. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small bits of genetic material that induce overgrowth of the muscle cells and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny sacs released from cells that carry miRNAs from one cell to another. We will “engineer” EVs to carry custom designed miRNA, which when given to patients can stop the muscle cells from over-growing and open up the blood vessels. We will test the “engineered” EVs in animals with PH. Our proposal is very innovative as it has the potential of providing a cure for PH. It is likely to have a significant impact in the treatment of PH as well as other vascular disorders such as coronary artery disease and stroke.