Jennie Leggat

Supervisors: Prof Toni Vidal-Puig & Dr Thomas Krieg

Title: Identification of the mechanistic links between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease

Abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a syndrome defined by abnormal hepatic lipid accumulation. Coincident with the obesity epidemic, its prevalence has increased in recent years, now affecting approximately 24% of the global population.

Studies have shown that the incidence of NAFLD  is independently associated with that of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This is of great concern as the growing prevalence of this hepatic pathology could translate into an even greater burden of CVD, which is already the biggest killer in the developed world. As such, it is imperative that we elucidate the mechanisms linking these two conditions in order to intervene and uncouple their incidence.

To achieve this, my study will use mouse models to investigate the crosstalk between liver, heart and systemic metabolic stress during NAFLD in order to identify potential therapeutic strategies to prevent the concomitant pathogenesis of CVD.