Dr. Aniella Abi-Gerges, associate professor and academic director of Medical Year 2 at the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, has been awarded the Programme Hubert Curien–CEDRE grant for a basic research project that promises to shed light on a heart condition affecting people with Type 1 diabetes.

The study titled “Insights into Cardiac Cyclic Adenosine 3’-5’ Monophosphate (cAMP) Signaling and Excitation Contraction Coupling (ECC) in Adult Female Rats with Diabetes” is a collaboration between Dr. Abi-Gerges, the principal Lebanese investigator on the project, and Dr. Grégoire Vandecasteele of the Laboratoire de Signalisation et Physiopathologie Cardiovasculaire (CARPAT), Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, France, the French principal investigator.

It examines gender-specific molecular changes that contribute to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition characterized by cardiac fibrosis—scarring of the heart muscle—and dysfunction.

Speaking about the significance of the research, Dr. Abi-Gerges noted that “the results should lead to a better and inclusive management of diabetic patients and prevent the progression of DCM to heart failure, while taking into consideration the disparities in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) between genders.”

Historically, CVDs were often perceived as primarily affecting men, leading to a knowledge gap and an under-recognition of symptoms in women, explained Dr. Abi-Gerges. However, research has increasingly highlighted important differences between genders in terms of risk factors, symptom presentation, and response to treatment.

Women tend to develop CVDs later in life than men, especially after menopause, often experiencing different symptoms, which can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment. “To understand the disparities in CVDs between genders, it is essential to consider how common risk factors like diabetes manifest differently in men and women,” she added.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy occurs in individuals with diabetes, even in the absence of other significant cardiac risk factors such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, or severe heart valve disease. It can impair the heart’s ability to effectively circulate blood throughout the body, causing shortness of breath, fatigue, and arrhythmia, among other symptoms, potentially leading to heart failure, marking the advanced stage of many CVDs.

Diabetic women face a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular complications compared to diabetic men due to “hormonal influences, differences in fat distribution, and variations in glucose metabolism,” said Dr. Abi-Gerges. Addressing these disparities is crucial for promoting gender equity in healthcare delivery and cardiovascular research, she added.

The Hubert Curien Partnership CEDRE (PHC CEDRE) is a Franco-Lebanese research program that aims to foster scientific and technological exchanges of excellence between French and Lebanese research laboratories. 

The two research teams in this project share a long history of scientific collaboration. In 2008, Dr. Abi-Gerges completed her PhD in Cellular, Molecular and Cardiac Physiopathology under the supervision of Dr. Vandecasteele.

More recently, the teams worked together on research projects as part of a Hubert Curien Partnership, which resulted in the publication of their findings in three high-quality, peer-reviewed journals.

In addition to PHC CEDRE, the project had previously been awarded the LAU President’s Intramural Research Fund (3rd cycle) for two years.