cardiovascular research unit

Activities

The Cardiovascular Research Unit aims to better understand the role of RNAs in heart and brain diseases. Our goal is to develop RNA-based biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to personalise health care. Our current focus is on heart failure, cardiac arrest and Parkinson’s disease. 

Circulating RNAs are very promising biomarkers for cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

Yvan Devaux, PhD, Head of the Cardiovascular Research Unit (CVRU), FESC, FAHA
_{(FESC: Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology; FAHA: Fellow of the American Heart Association)}

Our ongoing Research Projects address two major areas.

Biomarkers

Using high-throughput transcriptomics tools and AI-based methodology, the team seeks to develop RNA-based diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for cardiovascular and brain diseases. Research projects focus on non-coding RNAs: microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs.

Therapeutics

By focusing on the mechanisms by which RNAs regulate the development of diseases, the group aims to facilitate drug discovery. 

Strategic goals

• Realize the full potential of RNA therapeutics in cardiovascular and brain diseases
• Address the main causes of mortality and morbidity in developed countries: heart and brain diseases 
• Fulfil unmet medical needs: lack of diagnostic tools and drugs for personalised healthcare 
• Develop networks of international collaborators 
• Collaborate with private partners to bring research products to clinical application 
• Perform translational research to push forward personalised medicine.
• Train the next generation of researchers