Atherosclerosis is the underlying process that causes heart attacks and most strokes.
We are working on discovering new genetic causes of atherosclerosis and new treatments to prevent atherosclerosis in our Premature Atherosclerosis Clinic. Measurement atherosclerosis progression by 3-D ultrasound, together with regression modeling with the known risk factors, permits the identification of individuals that are highly likely to bear new genetic causes of atherosclerosis. Once new genes are identified we will be able to develop new treatments to prevent atherosclerosis. In collaboration with the Advanced Imaging Group at the Robarts Research Institute, we have developed 3-D ultrasound methods for measuring the rate of progression of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries. This method is ideal for testing new treatments, since the rate of growth of plaque in 3 dimensions is more than 2.5 times faster than the growth in thickness, and the measurements are non-invasive.