Research Summary
Heart valves keep blood flowing in the right direction—but when they degenerate, the heart must work harder, and eventually, it can fail. Dr. Marie-Annick Clavel, Canada Research Chair in Women’s Heart and Valve Health, is tackling this challenge by focusing on a major gap in research: most studies on valvular heart disease have focused on men, even though women make up half of all patients.
She and her research team are investigating how heart valve disease progresses differently in women and men and whether treatments should be tailored according to sex. With more than 1.5 million Canadians expected to have valve disease by 2040—many of whom may not be candidates for surgery—the need for non-surgical treatments is urgent. Clavel’s team aims to uncover the biological mechanisms behind valve disease in both sexes and test new medications that could slow its progression. Ultimately, her research could reduce the need for invasive procedures and improve long-term outcomes for all patients.