Vascular Research Group

This research team is headed by Professor Andre van Rij and Associate Professor Greg Jones, and conducts a wide range of research in the fields of vascular biology, genetics and physiology.

This multidisciplinary group has a wide range of basic science and clinical skills, including molecular biology (genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics), immunohistopathology, cell culture and vascular physiology (ultrasonography).

The group’s primary research interests are:

• The genetic basis of different forms of vascular disease including abdominal aortic aneurysm, coronary artery disease, lower limb arterial disease, stroke and varicose veins.
• Determining the early processes in the formation of atherosclerosis (arterial disease).
• The identification of circulating markers of vascular susceptibility and/or post-interventional outcome.
• Determining the pathophysiology of venous disease.

The Vascular Research Group is currently funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Our research group is a leading member of the Vascular Research Consortium of New Zealand (www.vrcnz.org), which aims to support collaborative vascular networks nationally.

Examples of publications in the above area:

• Jones, G.T., Thompson, A.R., van Bockxmeer, F.M., Hafez, H., Cooper, J.A., Golledge, J., Humphries, S.E., Norman, P.E. and van Rij, A.M. (2008)  The Angiotensin II type 1 receptor 1166C polymorphism is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm in three independent cohorts. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 28: 764-770.
• Jones GT, Jiang F, McCormick SP, Dusting GJ. (2005) Elastic Lamina Defects are an Early Feature of Aortic Lesions in the Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mouse. Journal Vascular Research. 42:237-246.
• Jones, G.T., van Rij, A.M., Cole, J., Williams, M.J.A., Bateman, E., Marcovina, S.M., Deng, M. and McCormack, S.P.A. (2007) Plasma lipoprotein(a) level indicates risk for four distinct forms of vascular disease.  Clinical Chemistry. 53: 679-685.
• van Rij, A.M., Jones, G.T., Hill, G.B., Amer, M., Thomson, I.A., Pettigrew, I.A. and Packer, S.G.K. (2008) Mechanical inhibition of angiogenesis at the saphenofemoral junction in the surgical treatment of varicose veins: early results of a blinded randomised controlled trial.  Circulation. 118(1): 66-74.