During his PhD studies, Lasse Bach Steffensen has studied mechanisms of early stages of atherosclerosis. This disease is driven by deposition of lipids in the artery wall. In the first part of his project, Lasse has focused on how blood flow disturbances locally renders the artery wall susceptible to development of atherosclerosis. In the second part of his project, he has analyzed the interplay between Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, which is an atherosclerosis-promoting protease, and its endogenous inhibitor, Stanniocalcin 2.

His findings provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and suggests novel therapeutic strategies for treating this disease.

The PhD degree was completed at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University and at the Department of Cardiology, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital.

This résumé is prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Monday 15 February 2016 at 11.00
Place: Building 1253, room 317, William Scharff Lakeside Lecture Theatres, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of dissertation: Flow-mediated lipoprotein retention; Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A inhibition in atherosclerosis and its release during myocardial ischemia
Contact information: Lasse Bach Steffensen, e-mail: lassebs@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 25531280
Members of the assessment commitee:
Associate Professor Jan von der Thüsen, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotter-dam, NL
Associate professor Jane Stubbe, Kardiovaskulær og Renal Forskning, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Associate professor Knud Larsen (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Professor Claus Oxvig, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Associate Professor Jacob Fog Bentzon, Department of Cardiology, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English.

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1520, rooms 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.