Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. received a $812,747 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded July 1, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2030. The research project investigates the role of tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA) in reducing lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels through epidemiological, genome-wide association, and Mendelian randomization studies. The project addresses the independent causal relationship between elevated Lp(a) and cardiovascular disease risk, specifically examining how TPA—a serine protease that initiates fibrinolysis—may regulate plasma Lp(a) concentrations beyond genetic determinants alone. Research observations suggest that hepatocyte-derived TPA contributes to circulating TPA concentration and that inverse correlations exist between TPA activity and Lp(a) levels in disease states such as severe COVID-19.

This basic and translational research project advances mechanistic understanding of cardiovascular disease pathophysiology by elucidating regulatory mechanisms beyond genetic control that influence a major independent risk factor for myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. The work is conducted at the Medical College of Wisconsin's Wauwatosa, Wisconsin facility and represents the Institute's commitment to hypothesis-driven research spanning molecular, cellular, and clinical investigations to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.