Exploring the role of vascular redox signalling in human atherosclerosis progression

This is a project examining the molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis progression in humans. The study will rely on the Oxford CABG Bioresource (OCB) cohort, which includes a bioresource of human vascular and myocardial tissue from ~900 patients who underwent cardiac surgery, with simultaneous extensive molecular, structural and functional phenotyping of their arterial tree. The project will include prospective advanced vascular imaging using computerised tomography angiography as means of characterising changes in atherosclerotic plaque structure/composition as well as intima hyperplasia, over time. Using a translational approach the project will also include mechanistic experiments using ex vivo models of human vessels and other experimental approaches, to investigate the role of vascular redox signalling directly in the pathogenesis of human vascular disease.