Skip over navigation
The Hospital
Research
Support Us
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Home
Français
Directions & Maps
Contact Us
About Us
Vision and Strategic Directions
Board Chair and CEO Message
Leadership Team
Annual Reports
Facilities
Research Data Management
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Wellness
Our Research
Priorities, Programs and Diseases
Researcher Profiles
National Research Networks
Scientific Publications
Research Awards
Technology Transfer
Industry Sponsored Research
Responsible Innovation
For Students & Fellows
News & Events
Newsroom
Seminars & Events
Career Opportunities
For Patients
News & Events
Home
>
News & Events
>
Newsroom
Bookmark or Share
Display Options
Display Options
+
Increase
/
-
Decrease
font size
High contrast version
Printer-friendly version
Newsroom
Seminars & Events
Newsroom
Research solves mystery of genetic risk factor for heart disease
November 4, 2015
A study led by Drs.
Hsiao-Huei Chen
and
Alexandre Stewart
has finally solved a long-standing mystery of heart disease. More than eight years ago, Dr. Stewart discovered that people with variations in a certain region of DNA (called 9p21.3) have a 21% increased risk of heart disease. However, this region of DNA was thought to be in a so-called “gene desert”, with no known function.
Now, Drs. Chen and Stewart have finally discovered that this DNA region plays a crucial role in regulating the proliferation of the smooth muscle cells that line our blood vessels, and the genetic variations disrupt this process. The mechanism involves proteins called TEAD3, TEAD4 and p16. This research opens to the door for the development of novel therapies that target this molecular pathway to prevent and treat heart disease.
The study is published in
Circulation
.
Dr. Chen is affiliated with The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute. Dr. Stewart is affiliated with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Co-authors:
Almontashiri NA, Antoine D, Zhou X, Vilmundarson RO, Zhang SX, Hao KN.
Funders:
Canadian Institute of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Taibah University (Saudi Arabia), University of Ottawa Heart Institute, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation
About The Ottawa Hospital
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.
For further information, please contact
Jennifer Ganton
Director, Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73325
Cell: 613-614-5253
jganton@ohri.ca