Rita M. Heuertz, MS, PhD

Saint Louis University (SLU)

Chronic low levels of systemic inflammation may play a role in prediction and/or causation of many disease states. This paradigm of disease causation indicates heretofore unrealized inflammatory components to disease pathogenesis. A classic example is the emerging view of cardiovascular disease as not only a lipid storage disease but also as an inflammation-mediated pathology with both elements believed to be causative components of disease. Because of this current focus in understanding disease pathogenesis, the role of systemic inflammation in disease and health is a research focus. Besides the basic science perspective of cellular and humoral components involved in systemic inflammation and disease, important components for consideration include clinical and translational research.