BACH 1 Inhibitors could be Key for Blood Vessel Growth

A new method for stimulating the growth of new blood vessels in the heart thus increasing blood flow to damaged tissue, will be investigated by researchers at the University of Bristol with funding of over £100,000 from national charity Heart Research UK.

.A team, led by Professor Paolo Madeddu, Chair of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine at Bristol, discovered that an excess of a protein called BACH1 can prevent blood vessel formation. They hope to show that the use of BACH1 inhibitors can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels and if successful lead to development of drug treatments for heart disease. The treatment could also benefit people suffering from other diseases such as poor blood circulation in the legs, or damage to other organs, such as the kidney, brain and eyes.

Professor Madeddu said: "The use of BACH1 inhibitors is a very promising area of study that promises to have a huge impact on the way that we treat a wide range of conditions.

"If we are successful, the door will be opened for a whole new method of treating people who have suffered damage to their hearts. The ability to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels will allow us to drastically improve the quality of life of patients who may be at risk of heart failure. We're very grateful to Heart Research UK for allowing us to undertake this research."