Dr Fatiha Tabet

French Canadian Fatiha Tabet took up a post-doctoral fellowship with The Heart Research Institute in January 2007. She has since received multiple awards for her work with the Lipid Research Group.

Fatiha’s major contributions have included understanding how HDL imparts cardio-protective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. One of her most exciting findings (and one with huge therapeutic potential) is that the beneficial effects of human HDL can be mimicked using a small synthetic drug, which is cheap to produce. In 2009, this work was recognised by the International Symposium on Atherosclerosis (Boston US) at which Fatiha received the Young Investigator Award.

More recently, Fatiha has been looking at a newly discovered type of genetic material called microRNAs (miRNAs). Her early studies indicate that these contribute significantly to the development of atherosclerosis. The Lipid Research Group now thinks that, if these miRNAs can be controlled, the development of vascular disease could also be controlled.

Fatiha’s interests, outside work include sports such as tennis, running, swimming, surfing and scuba diving… but her passion is Latin dancing. She’s been dancing in semi-professional troupes for the past 10 years and has performed at national and international salsa congresses.