Rate My Professor Martin Bennett

His research focuses on the vascular biology of atherosclerosis, particularly vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, death, and senescence, including protective mechanisms against DNA damage and the role of sirtuins in preventing vascular disease. Bennett's clinical research employs virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), biomechanical plaque analysis, and AI-based methods to identify vulnerable plaques. Techniques include cell and tissue culture, RNA sequencing, virus-mediated gene transfer, in vivo atherosclerosis models, and biophysical modelling. Key publications include Wang et al., 'Vascular smooth muscle cell senescence promotes atherosclerosis and features of plaque vulnerability' (Circulation, 2015); Shah et al., 'Defective base excision repair of oxidative DNA damage in vascular smooth muscle cells promotes atherosclerosis' (Circulation, 2018); Grootaert et al., 'SIRT6 deacetylase is essential to protect vascular smooth muscle cells from senescence and against atherosclerosis' (Circulation Research, 2021); Costopoulos et al., 'Impact of combined plaque structural stress and wall shear stress on coronary plaque progression, regression and changes in composition' (European Heart Journal, 2019); and Gu et al., 'Comprehensive biomechanical and anatomical atherosclerotic plaque metrics predict major adverse cardiovascular events' (Atherosclerosis, 2024).