Ga Tech Researchers Find Important Gene Related to Heart Disease ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - The gene is called "Hu R," and Georgia Tech researcher Gang Bao says it could play a major role in triggering atherosclerosis. That's the medical term for when fats harden in the arteries.

Bao says not only does Hu R respond to certain external factors, but it also stimulates other genes that could play a role in cardiovascular disease. He says that understanding could one day lead to more effective treatment.

"If we can design a drug to target this gene, we could reduce the risk of having this disease," said Bao.

Researchers must now conduct clinical studies to find out how much a Hu R-blocking drug might reduce risk. It could be a decade before a drug makes it onto the market.

The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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