Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded the University of Virginia $817,755 on May 15, 2026, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) to support research into the molecular mechanisms underlying inherited and sporadic brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs). The research will be conducted in Charlottesville, Virginia, through February 28, 2030. This project addresses a critical clinical need, as BAVMs represent the leading cause of hemorrhagic stroke in children and young adults, and current treatment options carry significant risk of disability or death, with approximately 20% of BAVM patients having no viable treatment options.

The funded research will investigate how somatic mutations in the KRAS gene drive sporadic BAVM development and will examine whether dysregulated endothelial cell cycle dynamics—similar to mechanisms identified in the inherited disease hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT)—contribute to BAVM pathogenesis. Using mouse and zebrafish models, the investigators will evaluate whether CDK4/6 inhibition can restore endothelial cell cycle control and prevent BAVM formation. The project is expected to generate novel insights into BAVM molecular pathophysiology and identify targeted pharmacological intervention strategies with lower morbidity profiles compared to current surgical, embolization, and radiation-based treatments.