# Core C: Human Clinical Cardiovascular and Biostatistics Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY · 2022 · $53,486

## Abstract

Core C Summary
The effect of immune cell variations on atherosclerosis in humans represents a poorly understood area of
atherogenesis and possible atheroprotection. Careful phenotypic description is critical for translation of well-
proven basic science hypotheses into human subjects as humans have marked genetic and phenotypic variation
compared to murine models of cardiovascular disease. Large well-phenotyped cohorts with banked specimens,
such as the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), allow for important associative discoveries linking
atherosclerosis with immunity. However, these cohorts do not provide large volume samples critical for follow-
on functional studies that have the ability to define the mechanisms underlying the association. The UVA Clinical
Cardiovascular and Biostatistics Core will provide 3 unique and critical functions to this PPG. The Core will
provide large numbers of human cells for functional studies of immune cell populations that are in low abundance
in the circulation. These cells will be obtained from patient undergoing cardiac catheterization who are well
phenotyped for cardiovascular disease using quantitative coronary angiography and the Gensini scoring system
to define disease burden and for variables associated with cardiovascular disease risk. Importantly, this cohort
is a long standing cohort supported by this NIH PPG with numerous subjects already banked increasing the
power of this cohort. Secondly, the Core will provide a longitudinal cohort of patients with a wide range of
atherosclerotic disease who are undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA). This
Core provides the unique expertise to perform advanced techniques allowing for a comprehensive description
of coronary plaque presence, stenosis severity, and features of coronary atherosclerosis including plaque size,
degree of calcification, positive and negative remodeling, perivascular coronary inflammation, and total atheroma
volume. Follow-up coronary CTA studies at 3 years will allow for determination of coronary plaque progression
and changes in markers of plaque vulnerability. While this cohort cannot provide the large numbers of immune
cells used for functional studies, it will have the ability to provide cells for immune phenotyping, as well as banked
cells, serum, and plasma for follow on studies. Finally, the Core will provide biostatistics support for all projects.
The functions of the Core will help provide the critical link between plaque characteristics and immune cell
phenotypes allowing for a better understanding of how immune cells contribute to plaque development and
markers of vulnerability. This Core will allow for incorporation of individual project goals and discoveries into a
“common model” moving beyond multiple murine models and advancing knowledge into the ultimate target
model: the human.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10334093
- **Project number:** 2P01HL136275-06
- **Recipient organization:** LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Angela M Taylor
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $53,486
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-06-02

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10334093

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10334093, Core C: Human Clinical Cardiovascular and Biostatistics Core (2P01HL136275-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10334093. Licensed CC0.

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