Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death and disability in the over-50s. At the NIHR Imperial BRC we are focusing on atherosclerosis, acute coronary events, genetic disease, abnormal haemorrhage/stroke syndromes, and heart failure. We use state-of-the-art techniques to develop new predictive and diagnostic methods for a range of cardiovascular pathologies, as well as strategies for monitoring risk and disease progression. Our clinical trials encompass traditional therapies, such as statins and surgical interventions, as well as exploring new biological medicines, including stem cell treatments. Our work falls into three broad programmes:
Bioengineering and computational biology
Greater integration of computation into healthcare is shaping diagnostics, therapeutics and management of patients. Our translational work in this area is aimed at improving patient outcomes, lowering costs, and moving towards greater use of non-invasive assessment of cardiovascular health.
Vascular science
Blood biomarker identification in atherosclerosis will enable prediction and prevention of major adverse coronary events. We are also studying mechanical stress on the aortic wall in aortic aneurysm surgical patients as another potential biomarker of disease and tool for patient stratification by risk. As well as these common conditions, we are currently examining the genetics of three rare vascular diseases.
Regenerative medicine
We are investigating applications of both gene therapy and stem cell therapy in the clinic. For patients with failing hearts, we aim to restore muscle function using gene therapy. Our stem cell work aims to fine tune the process of introducing bone marrow-derived stem cells to damaged heart tissue. In the laboratory, in order to research models of disease, we are producing induced pluripotent stem cells from samples taken from healthy individuals and cardiac patients.
Our approach is interdisciplinary, combining our new genetic and cell therapy techniques with expertise and tools within Imperial College London’s mathematical and engineering sciences, the NIHR Health Informatics Collaboration, the Imperial Academic Health Science Centre, and the BRC’s Institute of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics. We also work with colleagues at the MRC Clincial Sciences Centre, the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, the British Heart Foundation Regenerative Medicine Centre, and the UKRC Regenerative Medicine Platform.
Key Individuals
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Professor Sian Harding
Theme Lead, Cardiovascular -
Dr Darrel Francis
Professor of Cardiology -
Dr Declan O'Regan
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer & Consultant Radiologist -
Dr Fu Siong Ng
NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Cardiology -
Dr Jamil Mayet
Consultant Cardiologist -
Dr Joseph Boyle
Clinical Reader in Vascular Molecular Pathology -
Dr Justin Davies
Senior Reserch Fellow / Consultant Cardiologist -
Dr Nick Linton
Consultant Cardiologist / BHF Senior Clinical Research Fellow -
Dr Prakash Punjabi
Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon -
Dr Prapa Kanagaratnam
Consultant Cardiologist -
Dr Ramzi Khamis
Clinical Research Fellow/Consultant Cardiologist -
Dr Zachary Whinnett
Clinical Senior Lecturer in Cardiac Electrophysiology / Consultant Cardiologist -
Professor Anna Randi
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine -
Professor Cesare Terracciano
Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology -
Professor Dorian Haskard
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine -
Professor Julia Gorelik
Professor of Cellular Biophysics -
Professor Michael Schneider
Chair in Cardiology -
Professor Molly Stevens
Professor of Biomedical Materials & Regenerative Medicine -
Professor Nicholas Peters
Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology -
Professor Peter Sever
Professor of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics -
Professor Rob Krams
Chair in Molecular Bioengineering -
Professor Sara Rankin
Professor of Leukocyte and Stem Cell Biology -
Professor Simon Thom
Professor of Cardiovascular Pharmacology -
Professor Steven Marston
Professor of Cardiovascular Biochemistry -
Professor Stuart Cook
Professor of Clinical & Molecular Cardiology -
Professor Thanos Athanasiou
Professor of Cardiovascular Sciences
