Funding: Fathoming function

10 June 2008

Funding awarded through the Wellcome Trust’s Physiological Sciences stream will explore the biological functions of a peptide and a family of lipids in the hope of developing treatments for atherosclerosis.

A programme grant has been awarded to Adrian Hobbs (University College London) and colleagues. They will investigate the biological roles of C-type natriuretic peptide, one of a family of naturally occurring substances, some of which are used to treat heart disease. It is hoped this work could help to find new ways to treat cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty plaques within arteries).

Finding possible future treatments for atherosclerosis is one aim of a collaborative project grant awarded to Homero Rubbo (University of Uruguay) and Valerie O’Donnell (Cardiff University). The researchers will make novel nitrated lipids - a type of fatty compound with anti-inflammatory actions - and investigate their ability to prevent atherosclerosis in an animal model.

Image: Atherosclerosis photomicrograph; Wellcome Library