Marie Depuydt received the Krijn Rietveld Doctoral Societal Impact Award for her publication on arteriosclerosis. In her dissertation, of which this article is a part, Dupuydt demonstrated the specific cells present in the plaque that narrows an artery. The many T-cells she found indicate an autoimmune disease. Depuydt: ‘If we want to prevent a heart attack, we must look beyond cholesterol and high blood pressure and also consider our immune system. The inflammatory reaction measurable in arteriosclerosis has been known for decades, but the exact role of the immune system remained unclear.
Unique combination of skills
‘Marie’s work is a unique combination of biomedical techniques, research with human tissue, and computer models,’ says jury member Wim Klop (and vice-president of DSM-Firmenich). ‘Her work helps us better understand arteriosclerosis. Marie has directly translated her new insights into ideas for new treatments. The research group also discussed their results with members of the Dutch Cardiovascular Alliance to consider potential applications.’
Source: News item Leiden University website
