Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) received a $830,344 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), with an award date of May 1, 2026 and completion date of January 31, 2030. This research grant supports a four-year investigation into the molecular principles of translational reprogramming by angiogenin, an RNase A family protein implicated in vasculature development and cardiovascular health. The project will deliver scientific research outputs addressing fundamental mechanisms by which angiogenin interacts with cellular ribosomes to reprogram protein translation and induce angiogenesis, including kinetic analyses, structural characterization via cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and biochemical sequencing studies.

The research will be conducted at UMMS's Worcester, Massachusetts facility and is organized into multiple research aims designed to elucidate how ribosomal interactions with angiogenin alter translational output and cardiovascular function. Specifically, the project will employ bulk and single-molecule biochemistry techniques alongside cryo-EM to identify preferred ribosomal functional states and understand mechanisms of translational stalling and restart, thereby advancing the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis and potentially informing future therapeutic development for cardiovascular diseases.