CIC biomaGUNE seeks new image diagnosis tests for cardiovascular diseases

The Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials, CIC biomaGUNE, is involved in the research consortium of cvREMOD, which aims to move forward in the attainment of new diagnosis techniques for prevention and customised treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the upcoming four years.

Diseases like myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, coronary heart diseases and hypertension, some of the main death causes worldwide, derive from cardiovascular remodelling due to certain pathological conditions. However, current knowledge about remodelling processes leading to these diseases is still quite limited.

CIC biomaGUNE's role in this project is related to its leading position in preclinical image diagnosis. The contributions of the Basque centre in cvREMOD focus on the use of contrast agents developed in its Glyconanotechnology Laboratory led by researcher Soledad Penadés.

These new contrast agents enable the identification of atherosclerotic damage (fat accumulation in arteries) in mice subject to a lipid-rich diet. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) together with histology- and molecular biology-based quantification techniques will be used to evaluate the response of blood vessels and clot formation as well as to validate the results obtained.

These techniques will promote the evaluation of different biomarkers related to processes of pathological remodelling-proliferation, inflammation and, above all, thrombosis.

Provided by Elhuyar Fundazioa