Funding success for Sydney cardiac & diabetes researchers

Cardiologist Professor Gemma Figtree will lead a project to investigate a new strategy to reduce the build-up of plaque in arteries, known as atherosclerosis, by targeting a receptor involved in the body’s inflammation response.

Professor Figtree leads CAD Frontiers, an international research team led by cardiologists working on a new approach to heart attack prevention that does not rely on risk factors and symptoms to predict an individual’s heart attack risk.

“One Australian suffers a heart attack every nine minutes. Whilst targeting the known modifiable risk factors – high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking – plays a critical role in reducing the development of the underlying atherosclerosis, we have limited ways to reduce the impact of inflammation on plaque development,” said Professor Figtree.

One promising new way to reduce inflammation is by targeting inflammation receptors with antibody-based treatments. However, early studies in humans have shown the benefits were outweighed by an increased risk of infection.

“To overcome these challenges, we have developed a series of small molecules that specifically inhibit the ‘sterile’ activators of inflammation relevant to plaque, but not involved in the important response to bacteria.”

This project will test these new molecules for their efficacy in reducing inflammation and plaque progression in models of cardiovascular disease, to identify promising candidates to progress to clinical trials.