Professor Alan Chait MB ChB, MD

Alan Chait is the Edwin L. Bierman Professor of Medicine, Head, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition and Director, Clinical Nutrition Unit, at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.

His research interests include investigation of the cell biology of atherosclerosis, with particular emphasis on the role of atherogenic lipoproteins, diabetes mellitus and inflammation. An additional aspect of interest relates to how inflammatory signals alter adipocyte biology and lipoprotein composition and function, and how these changes might play a role in atherogenesis.

Professor Chait obtained his MB ChB (equivalent of MD) at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, his MSc in Biochemistry at the University of London, and his MD (equivalent of PhD) at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He completed his clinical training at the Hammersmith Hospital and St. James’ Hospital, London. He subsequently undertook a Fellowship at the University of Washington, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Gerontology.


Most recent publications:

McDonald TO, Gerrity RG, Jen C, Chen H-J, Wark K, Wight TN, Chait A, O'brien KD. Diabetes and arterial extracellular matrix changes in a porcine model of atherosclerosis. J Histochem Cytochem 2007;
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

Saraswathi V, Gao L, Morrow JD, Chait A, Niswender KD, Hasty AH. Fish oil increases cholesterol storage in white adipose tissue with concomitant decreases in inflammation, hepatic steatosis, and atherosclerosis in mice. J Nutr 2007;137:1776-82.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez


Most cited publications:

Renard CB, Kramer F, Johansson F, Lamharzi N, Tannock LR, von Herrath MG, Chait A, Bornfeldt KE. Diabetes and diabetes-associated lipid abnormalities have distinct effects on initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. J Clin Invest. 2004;114:659-68.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

Eckel RH, Wassef M, Chait A, Sobel B, Barrett E, King G, Lopes-Virella M, Reusch J, Ruderman N, Steiner G, Vlassara H. Prevention Conference VI: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: Writing Group II: pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in diabetes. Circulation 2002;105:e138-43.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

Brown BG, Cheung MC, Lee AC, Zhao X-Q, Chait A. Antioxidant vitamins and lipid therapy: end of a long romance? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2002;22:1535-46.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez