Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport received a $248,679 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded on February 18, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2029. This award funds research investigating the functional role and underlying mechanisms of HMGXB4 (high mobility group box domain containing 4), an uncharacterized nuclear protein implicated in occlusive vascular diseases. The research addresses vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic modulation, a central process in restenosis and atherosclerosis pathogenesis, and builds upon preliminary evidence linking HMGXB4 genetic variants to increased coronary artery disease risk identified through genome-wide association studies.

The deliverables include comprehensive experimental investigations characterizing HMGXB4's role in vascular disease progression, including in vitro studies examining VSMC phenotypic switching, molecular interaction analysis with NF-κB signaling pathways, and in vivo validation using animal models of wire injury-induced neointima and atherosclerosis. Research findings are expected to elucidate mechanisms of VSMC inflammation and phenotypic switching while establishing the therapeutic potential of HMGXB4 modulation as a novel approach for treating occlusive vascular diseases.