Marlys L. Koschinsky
Professor
Department of Biochemistry
University of Western Ontario
Canada
Biography
Marlys L. Koschinsky, Scientific & Executive Director, Robarts Research Institute; Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. Ph.D., Molecular Genetics of Human Ceruloplasmin, University of British Columbia, 1988 and Postdoctoral Fellow, Genentech Inc., 1988-1991.
Research Interest
My research focuses primarily on Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), a causal risk factor for coronary heart disease. Lp(a) is very similar to low density lipoprotein (LDL), a particle often referred to as the “bad cholesterol” that is well-established as a risk factor this disease. Elevated levels of plasma Lp(a) have been identified in clinical studies as the single most common genetically-inherited risk factor for coronary heart disease. However, Lp(a) poses challenges for clinical management since levels of this lipoprotein are relatively resistant to lifestyle modification or lipid-lowering drugs, arising from the fact that levels are primarily genetically determined. Hence, Lp(a) has often been referred to as the “really bad cholesterol”.
Publications
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Riches K, Franklin L, Maqbool A, Peckham M, Adams M, Bond J, Warburton P, Feric NT, Koschinsky ML, O’Regan DJ, Ball SG. Apolipoprotein (a) acts as a chemorepellent to human vascular smooth muscle cells via integrin α V β 3 and RhoA/ROCK-mediated mechanisms. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology. 2013 Aug 31;45(8):1776-83.
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Boffa MB, Koschinsky ML. Screening for and management of elevated Lp (a). Current cardiology reports. 2013 Nov 1;15(11):417.
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Boffa MB, Koschinsky ML. Update on lipoprotein (a) as a cardiovascular risk factor and mediator. Current atherosclerosis reports. 2013 Oct 1;15(10):360.
