The PhD student would study the most common underlying problem of cardiovascular disease: atherosclerosis. 

It has recently become known that, during the process of atherosclerosis, foam cells can also become active inflammatory cells. These inflammatory foam cells create more inflammation and a weaker plaque that is more likely to rupture and as a consequence can cause a heart or brain attack more quickly. The future PhD student will investigate exactly what transcription factors are responsible for the foam cells to become inflammatory foam cells. 

This project is funded by the Dutch Heart Foundation.