Lipids and Lipoproteins

We have an international reputation in the field of lipids and lipoprotein metabolism that is implemented through collaborations with scientists and clinicians within ICAMS and throughout the University of Glasgow, but also nationally and internationally. Our research is mostly focussed on the roles that lipids and lipoproteins play in the health of people and populations. We are interested in the mechanisms by which lipids and lipoproteins exert their influence on a variety of states including pregnancy, diabetes, dementia, renal disease, and hyperlipidaemia. We have a strong emphasis on human clinical research although in the past we have carried out studies in a variety of animal species. We have developed and established a number of techniques to isolate and analyse numerous lipoprotein subfracations and examine why some are more pro-atherogenic than others. We carry out investigations to uncover the mechanism of action that drugs, exercise and diet have on lipoprotein metabolism. Our group has over thirty years experience investigating human lipoprotein metabolism in vivo using isotopes for tracing. We are one of only a handful of viable groups world wide that carries out these lipoprotein kinetic studies.

Current Research:

• Lipoprotein Metabolism Using Kinetic Studies
• Clinical Trials
• Diet
• Diet and Exercise
• Dementia
• Hepatitis C Virus
• Pregnancy
• Renal Disease
• Structure-function Relationships of Lipoproteins and Their Subfractions
• SAS Laboratory for Cardiovascular Biomarkers