Trask Lab

Dr. Trask's research focuses on studying processes involved in adverse micro- and macro-vascular remodeling in disease, including early type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Heart disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) directly correlates with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), which results in impaired coronary flow and increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). While atherosclerosis in large coronary arteries (macrovessels) and endothelial dysfunction are known contributors to MI, the influence of coronary resistance microvessel (CRM) remodeling versus macrovessel remodeling to T2DM-induced cardiac disease remains largely unknown.

Therefore, the over-arching goal of Dr. Trask's research program is to understand how early fundamental differences in large arteries and CRMs (main determinants of blood flow and perfusion) contribute to end-organ complications in T2DM and metabolic syndrome. This area of research has important clinical significance, since nearly all current therapeutic approaches target large arteries with little respect to CRMs.