Grant: Project Grant

Cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke is the leading cause of death worldwide. Higher levels of cholesterol in blood, especially cholesterol from particles called low-density lipoproteins (LDL), are linked to higher risk of heart disease. LDL builds up in blood vessels, causing them to harden and narrow. This eventually leads to atherosclerosis, one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease. The drugs that are most often prescribed to lower lipids in blood are the statins. They can reduce cardiovascular events by 20% to 40%. A new second type of drug, the PCSK9 inhibitors, can be prescribed together with statins and reduce cardiovascular events by 15% more. Therefore, the risk of cardiovascular disease is still high, though, even with these current drugs. Considering that more than 50,000 strokes and 75,000 heart attacks occur in Canada every year, the need for new cardiovascular therapies is clear and urgent. In our research, we are looking for alternative ways to reduce levels of cholesterol in blood and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.