The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern) was awarded a $508,436 Project Grant by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). The funding supports research to investigate the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the development of complex lymphatic anomalies (CLAs), a group of rare and debilitating vascular disorders.
Specifically, the project aims to test the hypothesis that the formation of lymphatic malformations requires both a genetic mutation in lymphatic endothelial cells as well as a permissive microenvironment driven by factors like vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C). The researchers plan to utilize a novel mouse model expressing an activated form of the KRAS gene in lymphatic endothelial cells to study this "two-hit" mechanism. The project also seeks to determine whether directly targeting the KRAS mutation can reverse the development of lymphatic malformations, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic approaches for these rare and complex vascular diseases. The project is expected to run from December 2024 through November 2028.
Generated 3/4/25, 4:19 AM