Background: The clinical outcome of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke is generally caused by rupture or erosion of an atherosclerotic plaque. While the contribution of the plaque intima and media to plaque initiation and progression are well acknowledged, that of the arterial perivascular tissue, the adventitia, is not established yet. Hypothesis: Adventitial inflammation, which is partially modulated by adipocyte activity, profoundly impacts plaque progression and stability and that modulation of this process could be a new therapeutic approach to improve the resilience of a plaque to rupture. Key objectives: 1) Determine the contribution of adventitial activation of adipocytes to plaque progression and stability in vivo in our model of collar aided carotid artery atherosclerosis, which affords flow induced atherosclerotic lesions, accessible to local intervention. Specific adipocyte activators will be applied, either systemically or focally and its effect on plaque development tested. Likewise, the effect of specific inhibitors of adipocytes activation will be determined. 2) Assess the possible activation pathways in situ and the culprit actors responsible for the plaque destabilizing effect. Implications: The results of these studies will not only increase our insight in the pivotal role of the adventitia in atherosclerotic plaque development and stability, but also is expected to lead to new targets and therapeutic modalities in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The applicant finished her Ph.D. summa cum laude at the CSIC (Spanish Research Council) in Seville and is currently Post-doctoral fellow. The mutual intentions of creating a long-term collaboration between the two institutes furthermore contributes to the impact the fellowship will have on EU scientific excellence.