Stephen Malin

Lipoproteins transport cholesterol and triglycerides to and from cells in the body. An excess of APOB-lipoproteins can result in the accumulation of these lipids in inappropriate tissues. This provokes the immune system and results in tissue damage, notable examples being atherosclerosis and fatty-liver disease. Atherosclerosis is a major cause of heart attacks and stroke, which are leading causes of death worldwide. Our approach is aimed at understanding how these diseases are initiated, where in the body this initiation occurs, and the nature of protective and pathogenic responses by the immune system. We create novel models that allow for on-demand APOB-lipoprotein accumulation and combine this with a range of the most modern and classical experimental techniques. This provides us with the opportunity to investigate basic immunology in the context of understanding mechanisms of a global health problem.