A scientist has earned international recognition for his work linking the Y chromosome to heart disease.
Dr Maciej Tomaszewski, a clinical senior lecturer in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Leicester, won the European Atherosclerosis Society award for pioneering study.
His winning paper, funded by the British Heart Foundation, examined the role of the Y chromosome in determining whether someone would go on to develop heart disease.
The study, published in the Lancet and British Medical Journal, found that genetic variation within the male-specific region of the human Y chromosome plays a major role in a genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease.
It emphasised that the Y chromosome was an essential determinant of men's health and their predisposition to disease – and raised the possibility that coronary artery disease could be passed genetically from father to son.
Each year, the European Atherosclerosis Society Scientific Committee selects the two best manuscripts published in the previous calendar year – one in basic science and one in clinical research – by scientists aged 40 or under.
Dr Tomaszewski said: "I am delighted to have been recognised by the European Atherosclerosis Society.
"This competitive award symbolises the commitment of the society to support scientists and clinicians driven to battle atherosclerosis and its complications.
"I am very grateful to European Atherosclerosis Society for this recognition and British Heart Foundation – for funding the research that led to this award.
"I would like to thank all members of my team, friends and collaborators whose outstanding support was instrumental in successful completion of the study."
