My current research projects focus on the role of melanocortin and  lipid signalling in cardiovascular diseases. In particular, the research aims at evaluating the therapeutic potential of targeting these systems for the management of atherosclerosis. We utilize both loss- and gain-of-function models as well as pharmacological and genetic approaches to advance our understanding of the roles of these mediators in atherosclerosis. The projects also combine various in vitro and in vivo models to achieve an extensive view of the underlying molecular-level mechanisms.
Coronary artery disease arising from atherosclerosis is a common form of cardiovascular disease and an important public health challenge worldwide. It is lacking effective treatments that would specifically target and reverse the underlying pathology and disease progression, highlighting the unmet medical need. Our research projects contribute to this need by exploring the possible therapeutic benefits of targeting melanocortin and lipid mediators in atherosclerosis.