Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded a $763,862 Project Grant to Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (award date: July 1, 2026; completion date: March 31, 2031) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). The research focuses on elucidating the metabolic control of immune cell function in atherosclerosis development. Specifically, the project investigates the role of methylmalonic acid (MMA)—a byproduct of propionyl-CoA catabolism—in macrophage inflammatory processes that drive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) progression. The research team will examine how dysregulation of the MMAB-MMA metabolic axis modulates macrophage inflammasome activation and atheroprogression through novel immunometabolic signaling mechanisms, using both genetic loss-of-function models and exogenous MMA treatment approaches.

This basic and translational research project directly supports NHLBI's portfolio objective to foster hypothesis-driven mechanistic research into cardiovascular pathology and disease mechanisms. The work is expected to generate novel therapeutic insights into immunomodulation strategies for ASCVD, addressing the significant residual cardiovascular mortality risk that persists despite lipid-lowering therapies. Findings from this research may identify new intervention targets within immune cell metabolic networks to complement existing cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment approaches.