Annette received a prestigious Veni award from NWO. With her grant she will study a hidden identity: macrophage-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation in atherosclerosis

Macrophages are key immune regulators of atherosclerosis. Annette will study a novel mechanism by which macrophages contribute to disease, via transdifferentiation into myofibroblast-like cells. These transdifferentiated cells acquire characteristics that contribute to atherosclerotic plaque stability, an undescribed feature for macrophages. Applying cell-culture systems, the researcher will identify regulators and mechanisms that contribute to transdifferentiation of macrophages in atherosclerosis.