# Mechanisms underlying caloric restriction-mediated resolution of atherosclerosis

> **NIH NIH K99** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $96,866

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Obesity and atherosclerosis are frequently comorbid conditions contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality
worldwide. The processes are characterized by inflammation in the adipose tissue and vasculature, respectively,
that share many pathophysiologic pathways. Although processes underlying obesity and atherosclerosis-related
inflammation are well studied, the signals that promote disease resolution and remission are largely unknown,
especially in the context of concomitant inflammation resolution. As a postdoctoral fellow, I investigated how
resolution of obesity-related inflammation influences cardiovascular disease and found that caloric-restriction-
induced weight loss in obese mice promotes resolution of atherosclerosis. Building upon these exciting findings,
I propose in Aim 1 to evaluate the impact of caloric-restriction on obese adipose tissue and hematopoietic
progenitors and whether the pro-resolving phenotype produced by to caloric-restriction can be transferred
through adipose or hematopoietic cell transplantation. In Aim 2, I propose to investigate the mechanisms by
which caloric-restriction influences the content and composition of atherosclerotic lesions and promotes
atherosclerosis resolution. This work will reveal novel functions of cells and tissues that influence the
atherosclerotic process in weight loss. Additionally, these studies will identify novel molecular pathways that may
be targeted for the concomitant treatment of adipose tissue and atherosclerosis-related inflammation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9953625
- **Project number:** 1K99HL151963-01
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Ada Weinstock
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $96,866
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-14 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9953625

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9953625, Mechanisms underlying caloric restriction-mediated resolution of atherosclerosis (1K99HL151963-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9953625. Licensed CC0.

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