Adam Fellows

Supervisor: Prof Martin Bennett

Title: Foxo3a Regulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Apoptosis in Atheroslerosis

Abstract: Potent vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) death in the advanced atherosclerotic plaque promotes a vulnerable phenotype and increases the chances of fatal cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke.

Our laboratory has found that activation of the transcription factor FOXO3a may be a vital co-ordinator of apoptosis in VSMCs in vivo and our research aims to understand more about its role in the progression of various chronic diseases of the vessel wall.

We are trying to determine the precise mechanisms involved in Foxo3a-mediated cell death and how these may be translated into therapeutic opportunities.

Posters:

• European Atherosclerosis Society 2015 conference, Glasgow: "FOXO3A elicits vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis through release of MMP-13 and subsequent degradation of the extracellular matrix". Abstract