Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

The immune system is essential to protect the body from disease-causing bacteria or viruses. One way that the immune system protects the body is by releasing "extracellular traps". These traps are made from webs of DNA that capture bacteria. However, these webs of DNA can also cause damage to the body themselves. In particular, "extracellular traps" can cause heart and, autoimmune diseases. This project will study the role of the immune system in high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes. We will study the ways by which hypertension and diabetes can cause immune system activation and damage to blood vessels. We will also determine if extracellular traps can predict organ damage in hypertension and diabetes. The proposed study will thus shed light on the role of the immune system in hypertension and diabetes and could identify new drug targets for the prevention of organ damage in hypertension and diabetes.