Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Albany Medical College received a $1,634,428 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded June 5, 2026, with completion targeted for February 29, 2028. The grant funds research investigating inflammation-resolution mechanisms in endothelial cells within the context of atherosclerosis progression and regression. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding how pro-resolving mediators—including specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) such as resolvins and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3)—interact within the endothelium to regulate atherosclerotic plaque development, particularly in patients on cholesterol-lowering regimens where inflammatory risk remains elevated despite pharmacological intervention.

The project comprises two integrated research aims designed to elucidate the signaling loops between pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as interleukin-6) and pro-resolving signals within endothelial cells that affect plaque cap thickness and atherosclerosis progression. Deliverables include mechanistic insights into dysregulated resolution processes in atherosclerosis and identification of direct and indirect endothelial mechanisms regulating inflammation resolution. This basic science research is conducted at Albany Medical College's Albany, New York facility and contributes to the NHLBI's broader mission to advance cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment through investigator-initiated research.