Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded Scripps Research Institute a Project Grant totaling $863,954 with an award date of April 1, 2026, and completion date of January 31, 2033, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). This award supports basic and translational research to advance understanding of the Protein C pathway and its mechanisms, with specific focus on activated protein C (APC), its cellular receptors, and protein-protein interactions relevant to vascular, thrombotic, and inflammatory diseases. The research aims to fill critical knowledge gaps regarding how APC's cytoprotective activities—mediated through the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) and non-canonical activation of protease-activated receptors—contribute to tissue homeostasis and host defense rebalancing.

The research initiative will generate scientific knowledge and discoveries with direct translational potential to address unmet therapeutic needs in cardiovascular diseases characterized by vascular dysfunction, abnormal coagulation, and dysregulated inflammatory pathways. Expected outputs include mechanistic insights into protein-protein interactions within the Protein C pathway, characterization of signaling mechanisms involved in cytoprotection, and foundational knowledge to support development of novel therapeutic interventions for conditions involving hypercoagulation, hypocoagulation, and vascular inflammation.