Cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading cause of death, and many of these deaths stem from vascular calcification—the buildup of calcium in blood vessels. This mineralization stiffens arteries and worsens conditions like heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.
Meet Ph.D. candidate Ana Valentín Cabrera from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, whose research focuses on developing new therapies to prevent or reverse this harmful process. Working with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Translational Sciences, Ana is testing small-molecule drugs that activate the relaxin receptor, a promising therapeutic target for vascular calcification. Relaxin, a natural hormone found in all of our bodies, protects blood vessels and reduces fibrosis. Her team has identified receptor agonists that significantly reduce calcium buildup in preclinical models.
The ultimate goal of her work is to create the first therapy that directly addresses vascular calcification, potentially transforming treatment for millions of people at risk of cardiovascular events. Such a breakthrough could improve quality of life, reduce healthcare costs, and pave the way for more effective cardiovascular care worldwide.
Ana’s inspiration for this research is deeply personal. Her grandfather survived a heart attack and struggled with lasting damage—an experience that motivated her to find scientific solutions that could spare other families the same challenges.
Expected to graduate in Spring 2026, Ana continues to explore how innovative drug design can make lasting impacts on human health.
(Fun fact: To study how calcium builds up in arteries, Ana and her team grow cells in the lab to watch calcification form and test treatments in real time.)