Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Thomas Jefferson University (Sidney Kimmel Medical College) received a $629,068 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded July 15, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2030. The award funds research investigating the role of isoaspartyl (isoasp) residue accumulation and protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) activity in diabetic vascular dysfunction and impaired angiogenesis. The research will examine post-translational protein modifications affecting endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) function and vascular repair mechanisms in the context of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI), conditions that affect over 200 million adults worldwide and currently rely primarily on revascularization or amputation as therapeutic options.

The project deliverables include basic and translational research outputs examining molecular mechanisms of vascular disease in diabetes, with particular focus on characterizing PIMT-mediated protein repair pathways in endothelial cells. The research will generate data on isoasp accumulation patterns in diabetic vessels, PIMT expression changes, and the functional consequences of PIMT deficiency on endothelial cell dysfunction and angiogenic capacity. Findings are intended to identify novel therapeutic targets for diabetic vascular complications and advance the mechanistic understanding necessary to develop more effective interventions beyond current standard-of-care revascularization procedures.