The term “translational” refers to the “translation” of basic scientific findings in a laboratory setting into potential treatments for disease.
In Medicine, “Translational Research” is increasingly linking the research fields of Basic Research and Applied Research. Although “Translational Research” is relatively new, it is being recognized and embraced globally.
In her lab, Dr. Fairweather specializes in how sex differences in inflammation caused by environmental exposures can lead to chronic inflammatory disease. Recently, Drs. Fairweather and Bruno published an editorial in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics (2017 Oct;10(5). pii: e001950. doi: 10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.117.001950) commenting on how sex differences in cardiac cells called cardiomyocytes contribute to heart failure. Biological sex differences in how cardiac muscle cells stretch and heal after damage between men and women are one reason that myocarditis occurs more often in young adult men than women following viral infections.
As an expert in Myocarditis, Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure, Dr. Fairweather leads a research team seeking advances in diagnostic techniques and novel therapies. The Translational Cardiovascular Disease Research Lab is advancing knowledge about the pathogenesis (causes) of disease to discover new diagnostic techniques and novel therapies for patients with Myocarditis and other Cardiovascular and Autoimmune Diseases. Dr. Fairweather is currently writing a paper with Dr. Bruno on how myocarditis can occur in patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension- and unexpected disease association. Drs. Fairweather, Bruno and Cooper are writing another manuscript on how sex differences in a particular biomarker that can be found in the blood can predict who will progress from myocarditis to develop dilated cardiomyopathy.
Dr. Fairweather leads her research team who are focusing their efforts on how sex differences in inflammation alter the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. They are identifying new diagnostic biomarkers and discovering possible new treatments including regenerative medicine with the goal of reducing and preventing disease.
You can view Dr. Fairweather’s Lab Website at:
http://www.mayo.edu/research/labs/translational-cardiovascular-disease-research
