Federal Grant Award Summary

Brigham & Women's Hospital Inc. received a $1.7 million Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) for the period July 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028. The award supports research to develop a novel therapeutic strategy for treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) by reactivating macrophage TIM4 expression to restore the ability of macrophages to clear dead cells (efferocytosis). The project leverages lipid nanoparticle delivery of small activating RNA (saRNA) to reconstitute TIM4 expression in macrophages, with preliminary studies demonstrating improved efferocytosis and reduction of MASH fibrosis in liver tissue.

The research addresses a critical clinical gap, as there are currently no approved pharmaceutical treatments for fibrotic MASH or MASH-driven atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. By identifying and targeting a common mechanistic defect in both disease pathways—impaired macrophage efferocytosis—the project aims to develop a dual-purpose therapeutic approach that simultaneously addresses disease progression in both hepatic and atherosclerotic lesions, potentially offering significant clinical benefits to patients with these comorbid conditions.