Role of PTP1B Inhibitors in Cardiovascular Disease and Type-2 Diabetes

This PhD studentship will be undertaken within the recently established Aberdeen Cardiovascular & Diabetes Centre (https://www.abdn.ac.uk/acdc) which will provide the successful applicant with excellent training and support in all aspects of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Obesity is a major risk factor for development of insulin-resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is the most prevalent cause of mortality among patients with diabetes, due to accelerated atherosclerosis. We recently demonstrated that inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in vivo in mouse models of atherosclerosis improves insulin resistance, decreases circulating lipids and protects against atherosclerosis (1). We also demonstrated that inhibition of PTP1B specifically in the myeloid cells (macrophages) protects against atherosclerosis development in the absence of changes in body weight and adiposity (2). In this project we aim to mechanistically investigate the effects of PTP1B inhibition on signalling networks thought to be key in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and diabetes as well as assess the translational potential of these findings. The student will gain excellent training within the basic and clinical sciences and as an integral member of the Aberdeen Cardiovascular & Diabetes Centre; with training in advanced statistics, biochemical and molecular biology techniques, in vivo metabolic testing and imaging and cell culture of primary murine and human cells.