Our research group, integrated by both basic and clinic scientists, has focused their research in the inflammatory aspects of atherothrombosis, the leading cause of death in Spain. One of the great challenges for biomedical research in this field is the identification of molecular biomarkers capable of predicting future cardiovascular events and to determine their pathogenetic role in atherosclerosis. This would allow to identify novel diagnostic tools and hopefully to develop safer and more effective treatments.

A number of in vitro, experimental and clinical studies have been performed in our laboratory in the last years, focusing on inflammatory, prothombotic and proteolytic factors playing a role in the atherosclerotic process, by using a wide range of cellular, molecular and experimental methodologies.

The most recent research in our laboratory focuses on the role of MMP-10 in atherosclerosis, characterizing the functions of this secreted enzyme in vascular migration and repair, and its potential involvement in atherosclerotic plaque instability. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms involved and identify those substrates whose cleavage regulates specific processes contributing to atherothrombosis.

A number of clinical studies have been performed in patients with clinical and subclinical atherosclerosis analyzing MMP-10 as biomarker of vascular risk. We are also analyzing the role of this MMP in vivo in murine models of atherosclerosis.