Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, is a global problem leading to heart attacks and strokes. Many treatments focus on preventing fatty deposits in the arteries by lowering cholesterol. Despite this, many people continue to have blocked arteries. Calcium deposits also build up in the arteries but the cause of this is not well understood. Our research has demonstrated elevated levels of a chemical called, BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN in patients with both kidney disease and heart disease. We want to target this protein to treat and detect heart and kidney disease.