Ayman Al Haj Zen, MD, PhD

Ayman received his MD from the University of Aleppo in 1998. Following his clinical training in Medicine at University Hospital of Aleppo, he moved to Paris, where he received his Master of Science in Cardiovascular Physiology and subsequently a PhD in Biology and Physiology of Circulatory system from the University of Denis Diderot (Paris VII) in 2005. This was followed by postdoctoral positions in London Research Institute at Cancer Research UK and Bristol Heart Institute at University of Bristol. He is working at the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and is based in the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics. His current research is focusing on molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating ischemia-induced angiogenesis.

Selected publications

Al Haj Zen A, Oikawa A, Bazan-Peregrino M, Meloni M, Emanueli C, Madeddu P. Inhibition of Delta-Like-4-Mediated Signaling Impairs Reparative Angiogenesis After Ischemia. Circ Res. 2010 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]

Campagnolo P, Cesselli D, Al Haj Zen A, Beltrami AP, Kränkel N, Katare R, Angelini G, Emanueli C, Madeddu P. Human adult vena saphena contains perivascular progenitor cells endowed with clonogenic and proangiogenic potential. Circulation. 2010 Apr 20;121(15):1735-45.

Al Haj Zen A, Madeddu P. Notch signalling in ischaemia-induced angiogenesis. Biochem Soc Trans. 2009 Dec;37(Pt 6):1221-7.

Al Haj Zen A, Gomez D, Borges LF, Philippe M, Gutierrez PS, Jondeau G, Michel JB, Vranckx R. Syndromic and non-syndromic aneurysms of the human ascending aorta share activation of the Smad2 pathway. J Pathol. 2009 May; 218(1):131-42.

Sainz J, Al Haj Zen A, Caligiuri G, Demerens C, Urbain D, Lemitre M, Lafont A. Isolation of "side population" progenitor cells from healthy arteries of adult mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006 Feb; 26(2):281-6.

Al Haj Zen A, Caligiuri G, Sainz J, Lemitre M, Demerens C, Lafont A. Decorin overexpression reduces atherosclerosis development in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Atherosclerosis. 2006 Jul;187(1):31-9.

Al Haj Zen A, Durand E, Addad F, Brasselet C, Caligiuri G, Vinchon F, Lemarchand P, Desnos M, Bruneval P, Lafont A. Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of superoxide dismutase and catalase decreases restenosis after balloon angioplasty. J Vasc Res. 2005 May-Jun;42(3):255-65.