Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded New York University School of Medicine a Project Grant of $1.69 million under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) for the period July 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028. The award funds research investigating the role of chromatin-associated long noncoding RNA (CHROMR) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The research will dissect the molecular mechanisms regulating CHROMR's localization and dual functions in cholesterol homeostasis and inflammatory signaling, map protein-interaction interfaces, and design steric-blocking oligonucleotides (SBOs) to selectively disrupt the CHROMR-IRF2BP2 interaction.

The project will deliver preclinical research findings and therapeutic development outputs, including characterization of CHROMR's mechanistic roles in atherosclerotic inflammation and lipid regulation through evaluation in human ex vivo models, including three-dimensional plaque explants and patient-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Deliverables will encompass inflammatory signatures, cytokine release data, epigenomic profiling results, and foundational evidence supporting RNA-targeting therapeutic strategies for treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The research aims to establish a modular approach to RNA-based interventions while advancing understanding of long noncoding RNA contributions to cardiovascular pathology.