Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Supervisor: Mireille Ouimet, University of Ottawa Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by the build-up of fatty plaques in the walls of blood vessels. Recently, a strong link between chronic inflammation and atherosclerosis has been established and has become a topic of high interest, due to its implications in disease prevention and management. However, little is known about the relationship between atherosclerosis and acute inflammation, such as that caused by surgery. Previously, an aggravation of atherosclerosis has been observed in mice in the period after surgery, yet the nature of this relationship and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The balance between ameliorating and aggravating atherosclerosis relies on the control of inflammation and the removal of fatty deposits, both of which are orchestrated by immune cells. These cells can transfer fats onto High-density lipoproteins (HDL), commonly referred to as the 'good cholesterol', for transport to the digestive system and excretion in the bile and feces. During non-surgical acute inflammation, this process is compromised due to the interaction of HDL with inflammatory proteins. While this has not yet been investigated in the context of surgical inflammation, my preliminary data indicates that the fat-carrying capacity of HDL is profoundly impaired following surgery. In this research proposal, I investigate the interplay between surgical inflammation and HDL, and its role in worsening atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is an important risk factor associated with postoperative cardiovascular complications. Each year, over 10 million patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery worldwide will suffer major cardiovascular complications within 30 days of their procedure. By understanding how inflammation affects the mechanisms that are protective against atherosclerosis, we hope to set foundational knowledge that could translate into surgical practices and influence patient care guidelines.