“There are currently no simple, non-invasive tests available to specifically detect unstable plaque,” Prof Stocker says. “This means that most people will only discover they had unstable plaque after experiencing a heart attack. It also means that we cannot and do not know whether existing or new drugs provide a treatment option for unstable plaque.
“The first step will take 18 to 24 months, to ensure the inhibitor blocks the inflammatory enzyme activity in human plaque,” Prof Stocker says. “Research can then proceed to testing whether the drug can decrease inflammation in plaque and improve heart function.”
HRI’s CEO, Dr Stephen Hollings, says the organisation needs $1.2m to move Prof Stocker’s research to the next stage.
“HRI is a not-for-profit and receives some government funding, but we rely on the community for 80 per cent of our funds,” Dr Hollings says. “We hope this fundraising appeal will enable the research team to test their discovery on humans and show we can detect and prevent heart attacks outside lab models. Ultimately this would save hundreds of thousands of lives around the world each year.”
