Student research project
Supervisor(s): Dr Tin Kyaw and Professor Alex Bobik
Our evidence-based proposal is built on "a simple yet powerful concept" — delivering the right treatment at the right time for long-lasting effects (a short therapy during a heart attack to reduce infarct size and lower chronic heart failure risk).
Project summary
Infarct size is a critical determinant of heart failure risk in patients who survive heart attack; notably, each 5% increase in infarct size is associated with a 20% increase in the risk of heart failure. The loss of cardiomyocytes directly affects infarct size. Importantly, this loss extends beyond the ischemic zones, impacting the peri-ischemic areas as well. We have identified the pivotal role of the stress-induced death signal, retinoic acid early inducible-1 (Rae-1), in mediating interactions with cytotoxic lymphocytes, which leads to the elimination of stressed cardiomyocytes. Here, various immunotherapies will be employed to target stress signal in heart attack.
Related methods, skills or technologies
This project will expose you to numerous skills and technologies, including:
- animal models
- cell culture
- flowcytometry
- human research
- imaging
- immunocytochemistry
- interventions
- molecular biology
- PCR
- proteomics.
This project is suitable for a Masters, Honours or PhD student.