Biography
Caitlin is an Honours student investigating the connection between atherosclerosis and chronic kidney disease. This research is crucial for her, as cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in individuals with kidney disease.
Project description
Since the heart and kidneys are closely linked, dysfunction in one organ often leads to complications in the other, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
To address this, Caitlin utilises advanced techniques such as lineage tracing, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and confocal imaging to study how chronic kidney disease influences atherosclerotic plaque development. Her research focuses on identifying changes in immune cell populations and inflammatory markers, which could provide new insights into disease progression and potential therapeutic targets.