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Research objectives
The timely advent of genomics and proteomics together with the completion of the human genome project opens up new horizons for the molecular understanding of cardiovascular disease, for identifying new diagnostic measurements and developing new pharmacological, gene and cell-based therapies. Indeed 'integrating post-genome research into the more established biomedical and biotechnological approaches' to cardiovascular disease succinctly expresses the mission of the EVGN.
The priority areas of the EVGN are chosen because of their importance in pathogenesis and their promise in terms of understanding basic pathophysiological mecanisms as well as development of new diagnostic and treatment modalities. These comprise:
1) early endothelial dysfunction, which is key to atherosclerosis progression and hence primary prevention,
2) atherosclerotic plaque instability, which is the hallmark of acute clinical events that are associated with atherothrombosis,
3) therapeutic angiogenesis, which offers the hope of reducing end organ damage after an acute ischemic event and thereby fending off long term complications such as heart failure.