10th of November 2021, 17:00-18:00 CET, Prof. Anton Roks

Speaker: Prof. Anton Roks, Department of Internal Medicine,
Erasmus MC

Title: Modeling of vascular aging and drug target identification with DNA repair mutant mice.

ZOOM online meeting details:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2138517914?pwd=UUJqdmlBSjBDakl2RlJyQ09BTXF6UT09
Meeting ID: 213 851 7914
Passcode: 9d002m

Abstract:
Aging is the single largest cause of disease in economically advanced societies. Cardiovascular disease is strongly represented in this context. Non-atherosclerotic vascular aging is a growing topic, its implications in health and life span being increasingly appreciated. This used to be a problematic field of research due to the lack of convenient methods. In recent years I have developed mouse models to explore this type of vascular aging, namely by partial inactivation of DNA repair in vascular cells. Persistent activation of DNA damage response leads to accelerated development of aging features independently from the presence of risk factors.

In my presentation I will illustrate how this impacts cardiovascular function in comparison to the typical risk factor-induced problems.  Also, I will show how my lab has identified relevant drug targets using accelerated vascular aging mice. Very recently I have developed an interest in redox regulation, and I am trying to develop this as a research line, again placing drug development center stage. My lab does not have all the required experience and facilities to examine important aspects of redox
regulation, and I kindly invite anyone skilled for collaboration. Furthermore, we are collecting tissues continuously and I would be happy to share tissues with anyone who is interested.