Testing a promising drug to improve cardiovascular health

Associate Professor Jon Oakhill, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research

2023 Vanguard Grant - One Year

Years funded: 2024 - 2024

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which arteries become blocked by inflamed plaques. When these plaques rupture they release blood clots into the blood stream that can lead to life-threatening stroke and heart attack. Atherosclerosis contributed significantly to the deaths of 42,300 Australians in 2019 (25% of all) and new treatment options are desperately needed. A key target to reverse atherosclerosis is an enzyme called AMPK. Drugs that activate AMPK are effective at preventing the formation of artery plaques, but whether they reverse progression of the disease is unknown. Here we will test the latest generation of AMPK activating drugs to determine their ability to remove artery plaques in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. This project represents the next key stage in testing a promising drug with potential to treat atherosclerosis, an underlying cause of cardiovascular disease.