Projects
How do cardiovascular diseases and their treatments affect the microstructural-mechanical relationship? An advanced 3D microstructural analysis & modeling approach KU Leuven
Cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of death worldwide. Treatment options such as intravascular stent deposition or balloon angioplasty often tend to fail. The hypothesis is that this failure is partly due the application of too large mechanical forces on the vascular tissue during treatment. However, the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood. To better understand these mechanisms and to evaluate potential new ...
Nanobody-based inhibitors of connexin hemichannels and pannexin channels as novel therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory hepatic and cardiovascular diseases. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Activation of the contact pathway of coagulation in cardiovascular diseases. KU Leuven
Our blood clotting system protects us from bleeding, and is crucial for survival. On the other hand, undesired activation of blood clotting is the most important cause of death. Indeed, when blood clots form inside the blood vessels, it can cause heart infarcts, stroke, or obstruction of the lung blood vessels.
Luckily, we have effective drugs that prevent blood clotting. These drugs are used to prevent deaths and disability in millions ...
Non-invasive optical measurement and physical modelling of blood pulse wave velocity for early detection of cardiovascular diseases. University of Antwerp
New strategies of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activation and their potential role in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and erectile dysfunction Ghent University
sGC is a cardinal enzyme in the maintenance of blood pressure and for eliciting erection. NO released from endothelial cells and NANC neurons is the main activator. Recently designed drugs that directly stimulate sGC independent of NO or that stimulate sGC through generation of CO are of potential clinical interest. The project aims ro discover the basic mechanism of action of these drugs.
Causes of micro-inflammation and cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease: role of uremic peptides Ghent University
Retention of uremic solutes as well as renal replacement therapy contribute to micro-inflammation related to the cardial burden in chronic kidney disease. Especially the effect of uremic peptides on leukocytes and specific leukocyte subpopulations will be evaluated in an in vitro set-up. The pathophysiological mechanisms involved, will be elucidated, aiming at a classification of the retention solutes according to their toxicity.
Mitochondrial DNA content in cardiovascular ageing and disease: a population study. KU Leuven
A major burden of modern society is the progressive increase in age-associated diseases such as heart failure (HF). The genetic and environmental drivers of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction progression remain to be elucidated. LV dysfunction is associated with changes in cardiac energy metabolism. Mitochondria play a central role in a variety of cardiac cell functions. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content correlates with the size and number ...