European Heart Journal selects PESA CNIC-Santander as one of the 10 best studies of 2022
RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT BONE MARROW ACTIVATES IN RESPONSE TO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS. THE ACTIVATION PRODUCES AN INCREASE IN INFLAMMATORY CELLS IN BLOOD, WHICH TRIGGER A PROCESS THAT WOULD INITIATE AND LATER CAUSE THE PROGRESSION OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS
According to the European Heart Journal, one of the 10 most important studies published in 2022 shows that the activation of bone marrow could play an essential role in the origin and development of atherosclerosis, the process underlying many cardiovascular diseases like infarction or ictus.
Lead by Dr. Valentín Fuster and Dr. Borja Ibáñez, the research suggests that bone marrow activates in response to cardiovascular risk factors. The activation produces an increase in inflammatory cells in the blood, which triggers a process that initiates and later causes the progression of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is the most frequent cause of death worldwide, and the disease has a long course before making itself known. Identifying the disease in its initial phases (before it causes symptoms) is one of the main objectives of PESA CNIC-Santander (Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis), which began in 2010 as a collaboration between CNIC and the Santander Bank, directed by Dr. Valentín Fuster, General Director of the CNIC, and cardiologist and Medical Director at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital.
DR. VALENTÍN FUSTER: “PESA is the CNIC’s flagship project because many of the centre’s cutting-edge research groups are connected to it, each of them with expertise in a specific area of cardiovascular disease. Combining the participation of basic and clinical researchers around a large cohort like PESA is unique in the world”
This study lays the foundations for fighting this disease, attacking the roots of its development. As Dr. Borja Ibáñez, CNIC’s Director of Clinical Research, cardiologist at the Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz and Head of the CIBERCV group, explains, “Early identification of atherosclerosis allows us to advance in knowledge of the mechanisms that produce it, which opens the door to finding new treatments that can prevent the progression of this lethal disease.”
Work has been conducted within the PESA CNIC-Santander study, a joint project between CNIC and the Santander Bank, which began over 10 years ago. The study includes 4,200 apparently healthy, middle-aged (40-55 years when they were recruited to the study) Santander Bank workers, who undergo a periodic follow-up that includes the latest imaging technology as well as advanced blood tests and analysis.
The study has recently been extended to continue until at least 2029, which will give a patient follow-up of almost 20 years, which is practically unique in the world.
PESA CNIC-Santander is considered one of the most important studies in the world in the field of cardiovascular disease prevention. As Dr. Valentín Fuster explains, “PESA is the CNIC’s flagship project because many of the centre’s cutting-edge research groups are connected to it, each of them with expertise in a specific area of cardiovascular disease. Combining the participation of basic and clinical researchers around a large cohort like PESA is unique in the world.”
