Meet Our Researchers
Avanthi Raghavan
“There has been little innovation in drugs for aortic aneurysms for decades. But if we inhibit this particular gene, we can potentially protect people from sudden cardiac death.”
An aortic aneurysm occurs when the wall of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, weakens and bulges. A complication of aortic aneurysms is the risk of tears or ruptures, which can cause sudden death. However, the weakening and bulging of the aortic wall is a slow, degenerative process—and sometimes there are no obvious symptoms. Recent, as yet unpublished studies from the Ellinor Lab have revealed a novel gene linked to larger aortic size—a risk factor for aortic tears and ruptures. Could targeting this gene open the door to new therapies, when today’s options are limited to decades-old drugs or surgery?
Working with the Broad’s Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Avanthi, a cardiologist, will search for a small-molecule drug to inhibit this gene. Her work could deliver the first new therapy for aortic aneurysm in a generation and provide a roadmap for tackling other vascular diseases.