Synchrotron-based imaging to decipher cardiovascular pathobiology

This project strives to decrease mortality and morbidity of patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in the lung, a lethal condition where curative treatment is lacking.By use of synchrotron-based imaging we have a unique opportunity to increase the general knowledge about vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension.

The pathophysiology will also be explored by use of animal models.

Since the imaging is non-destructive the tissue can subsequently be sectioned and used for histology, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and laser micro-dissection followed by proteomics. The results will then be combined with imaging data to map cellular and molecular events in 3D space.

The main mechanistic focus for the group is the role of proteoglycans.The applicant works 50% clinically with pediatric pulmonary hypertension and transplantation and the group is therefore also involved in registry-based projects and other clinical initiatives, like a survey on pulmonary vascular resistance in heart transplantation.Five PhD-students and a post doc are involved in the project.

Five years from now we hope to know significantly more about the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension, to have found new therapeutic targets of interest and useful biomarkers, and to have contributed to improved guidelines.

Our work may also lead the way for other groups to start using the techniques available at synchrotrons like the Swiss Light Source and MAX IV.