Advances STUDY FINDS AIR POLLUTION MAY PLAY A ROLE IN CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASES
New research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation shows air pollution may play a role in the development of cardiometabolic diseases, such as diabetes. Researchers also found that air pollution increases the risk of other potentially fatal health problems like heart attack and stroke. “We created an environment that mimicked a polluted day in New Delhi or Beijing,” said Sanjay Rajagopalan, MD, first author on the mouse model study, Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine and Herman K. Hellerstein, MD, Chair in Cardiovascular Research at UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute. “The good news is that these effects were reversible, at least in our experiments. Once the air pollution was removed from the environment, the mice appeared FIRST CLASS OF HARRINGTON UK RARE DISEASE SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED
healthier and the pre-diabetic state seemed to reverse.” Dr. Rajagopalan and his team believe it is important to address
There are 7,000 known rare diseases, yet only five percent have an approved treatment. Addressing this unmet need is the primary goal of the Harrington UK Rare Disease Scholar Award program, an international effort from Harrington
the environment as a population health risk factor and continue to diligently research these issues. The authors also note these findings should encourage policymakers to enact measures aimed at reducing air pollution.
Discovery Institute at University Hospitals and its registered United Kingdom charity, Fund for Cures UK. Last month, the first five Harrington UK Rare Disease Scholars were announced. Each awardee will receive grant funding and drug development support to advance their research. They will also have access to the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre, the cornerstone of the transatlantic partnership between UH and the University of Oxford. Designed to develop the best breakthrough discoveries in UK science, the award program complements Harrington Discovery Institute’s rare disease initiative in the U.S., coordinated in partnership with the major pharmaceutical company Takeda.
Sanjay Rajagopalan, MD
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