MIBAVA-Mechanistic Interrogation of Bicuspid Aortic Valve associated Aortopathy
- Bart LOEYS, University of Antwerp (Belgium)
- Harry DIETZ, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (USA)
- Lut Van LAER, University of Antwerp (Belgium)
- Andy McMALLION, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (USA)
- Per ERIKSSON, Anders FRANCO-CERECEDA, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (Sweden)
- Luc MERTENS, SEEMA MITTAL, Sickkids University Hospital, Toronto (Canada)
- Salah A. MOHAMED, Lübeck University Hospital (Germany)
- Gregor ANDELFINGER, Sainte-Justine Hospital, Montréal (Canada)
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), a condition in which there are two valve leaflets instead of the normal three, is the most common congenital cardiac malformation, affecting from 1% to 2% of the population. It appears to be highly heritable, is more common in males than females, and is frequently associated with other aortic pathology, such as ascending aortic aneurysm. The goal of the MIBAVA network is to identify factors that affect the clinical outcome of patients with BAV, with particular attention to the progression of aortic aneurysm. The scope of the research program will span natural history and epidemiologic studies, exploration and application of advanced imaging techniques, use of advanced genetic methods to identify disease-related genes and pathways, basic science investigations to identify predisposing mechanisms at the biochemical, cellular and tissue level, and the complementary use of various model systems. With progress in understanding the etiology of aneurysm formation, the network will turn to the search for novel therapeutic strategies and the development of individualized treatment protocols.