Project summary
In collaboration with Associate Professor Sanjay Patel and his group at the HRI, we have discovered that the heart releases certain proteins and cell remnants during a disruption of plaques (during heart attacks) and these can now be detected in the laboratory.
We also have preliminary data indicating that a well-known anti-inflammatory drug, colchicine, may be particularly beneficial in dampening down the inflammation associated with acute heart attack, with potential benefits for patients in this situation. Dr Gonzalo Martinez, a cardiologist from Chile, helped perform this work, collaborating with our group for 18 months.