Dr Gemma Basatemür

  • BHF Career Development Fellow
  • Research Associate
Dr Gemma Basatemür

Contact

Research

I am interested in how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence responses to inflammation, particularly in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the cell type which constitutes most of the artery wall and atherosclerotic plaques.

I have identified that the chromosome 9p21 genetic risk locus for cardiovascular disease is linked to inflammatory responses in VSMCs, through regulation of DNA methylation and expression of an important component in the IL-1 signaling pathway.

I was recently awarded a BHF Career Development Fellowship to extend my studies on the chromosome 9p21 locus and investigate the impact of age-related changes in DNA methylation on atherosclerosis.

Collaborators

  1. Professor Ludovic Vallier

    Professor Ludovic Vallier

    • Professor of Stem Cells in Regenerative Therapies at the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH)
  2. Professor Sanjay Sinha

    Professor Sanjay Sinha

    • Professor in Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine
  3. Professor Ziad Mallat

    Professor Ziad Mallat

    • BHF Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine