Monday, February 16, 2026 2/16/2026

Early Detection of Vascular Dysfunction Using Biomarkers from Lagrangian Carotid Strain Imaging

Award Number: R01HL147866
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Early Detection of Vascular Dysfunction Using Biomarkers from Lagrangian Carotid Strain Imaging - Abstract Current clinical criteria for treatment of atherosclerotic plaque, or atheromas, have focused primarily on percent stenosis of the vessel. However, measures of occlusion (percent stenosis) do not identify those plaques that are prone to rupture, which may release emboli into the blood stream feeding sensitive cerebral vasculature. A novel approach, Lagrangian carotid strain imaging, where tissue displacements are precisely measured during pulsation of blood through the artery has been developed. We propose to measure `strain indices,' that include the maximum accumulated axial, lateral, and shear strain estimated over the cardiac cycle, to probe the detailed mechanical properties of early plaque. We believe these strain indices will prove to be valuable vascular biomarkers to indicate vascular aging and possible plaque vulnerability. Our preliminary results demonstrate the ability to differentiate between soft and stiff regions in plaque under in-vivo clinical imaging conditions. Our definition of `vulnerable plaque' or `vulnerable patient' relies on the identification of lipidic depositions or softer plaques, i.e., those that undergo large axial or lateral deformations and/or large shearing strains during the cardiac cycle. Capability of strain tensor imaging and vascular biomarkers to characterize plaque severity from its early stages to a mature plaque lesion will be evaluated and quantified. A study on asymptomatic volunteers and patients also is proposed. The volunteer will provide values for vascular strain indices normalized to age-related vascular stiffening. The results will enable us to establish trends in age-related variations in vascular stiffness and to determine deviations that could establish vascular aging criteria. Interventions to reverse vascular aging might then be used, for example lifestyle modifications and common medical therapies. Strain imaging results will be validated and complimented by three- dimensional (3D) carotid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a selected group of high-risk volunteers, along with 3D carotid MRI and 3D histopathological analysis of the entire excised plaque on patients to better understand plaque composition and structure. Validation of our results will foster use of real-time noninvasive ultrasound strain imaging as a screening tool for identifying human subjects susceptible to vascular aging and/or developing plaque prone to rupture or micro-embolization that could lead to `silent strokes' and possible vascular cognitive impairment. The patient study will also enable comparison of strain indices and carotid MRI to the ground truth, namely the excised plaque.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2023	UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM	21 N PARK ST STE 6301	MADISON	WI	53715	DANE	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	4	12/30/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $584,895 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM	21 N PARK ST STE 6301	MADISON	WI	53715	DANE	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	001	4	7/24/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$584,895
2023	2022	UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM	21 N PARK ST STE 6301	MADISON	WI	53715	DANE	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	3	5/3/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $584,895

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $941,625 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM	21 N PARK ST STE 6301	MADISON	WI	53715	DANE	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	3	6/24/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$581,772
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM	21 N PARK ST STE 6301	MADISON	WI	53715	DANE	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	001	3	6/29/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$359,853
														Subtotal = $941,625

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $646,020 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM	21 N PARK ST STE 6401	MADISON	WI	53715	DANE	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	2	7/1/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$646,020
														Subtotal = $646,020

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $702,233 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM	21 N PARK ST STE 6401	MADISON	WI	53715	DANE	USA	Cardiovascular Diseases Research	000	1	7/10/2020	NEW	$702,233
														Subtotal = $702,233

Grand Total All Awards = $2,874,773

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Early Detection of Vascular Dysfunction Using Biomarkers from Lagrangian Carotid Strain Imaging

Award Number: R01HL147866

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer