Cardiovascular Research - an Overview of the Process of Atherosclerosis

Third-cycle level | 1.5 credits (HEC) | Course code: K2F3133
VT 2025
Study period: 2025-05-19 - 2025-05-23
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: The course is given in English
Application period: 2024-10-15 - 2024-11-05
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Course description

Atherosclerosis will be discussed from molecular, cellular, genetic, clinical, and epidemiological perspectives. Participants with a medical background will have greater exposure to experimental work, while those with a non-medical background will gain a solid understanding of the various clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis. This knowledge will be beneficial, particularly for bioinformaticians in the field. Additionally, the course provides participants with opportunities to network with other students in the cardiovascular domain.

Topics to be covered include discussions of the roles of the following in atherosclerosis: lipids and lipoproteins, oxidized LDL, thrombosis, plaque stability, inflammation, innate and adaptive immunity, proteinases, blood pressure, and diabetes/insulin resistance. Examples of in vitro and animal models, as well as clinical studies, will also be discussed.

Intended learning outcomes: 1. Relate risk factors to the pathology of atherosclerosis; 2. Discuss the development of atherosclerotic lesions at the cellular and molecular levels; and 3. Justify the use of different models (in vitro, epidemiological, and animal models) to study atherosclerosis and apply them to a given project.

Prerequisites and Selection

Prerequisite courses, or equivalent

No prerequisite courses, or equivalent, demanded for this course. 

Selection

Selection will be based on:  
1) the relevance of the course syllabus for the applicant’s doctoral project (according to written motivation). 
2) start date of doctoral studies (priority given to earlier start date). 

Course director

Anton Gisterå

Department of Medicine, Solna

anton.gistera@ki.se

Bioclinicum J8:20, Akademiska stråket 1

Karolinska University Hospital, Solna

171 64 Stockholm

Course syllabus

K2F3133

Department

Department of Medicine, Solna

Doctoral programme

Cardiovascular Research (CVR)

Type of course

**Other course

Keywords

Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiovascular research

CONTACTAnton Gisterå

anton.gistera@ki.se