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Summary of current research

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT), Cardiac Imaging and Coronary and Large Artery Flow

    • Developing advanced methods for characterising the action of CRT pacemakers to improve the efficiency.  Including lead in BRAVO multicentre trial.  Patented technology licensed to Finapres Medical Systems, Netherlands.
    • Engineers and Clinicians developing advanced methods of echocardiographic imaging that permit reliable  quantification of left ventricular function, mitral regurgitation and aortic stenosis. (BHF, European Research Council).
    • Pioneered use of wave intensity analysis for non-invasive measurement of coronary flow to assess cardiac ischaemia  (DEFINE-FLAIR Trial).

    Researchers: Professor Darrel Francis, Dr Zachary Whinnet

    Cardiovascular Trials

    • Long term follow-up (ten years) of UK patients recruited into the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial for evidence of legacy benefits of statin therapy and antihypertensive treatment strategies. First detailed study on comprehensive evaluation of statin tolerance with focus on muscle related side effects. Extensive biomarker programme for markers of CV disease, including heart failure (EU collaboration) and diabetes, including retinal vascular geometric assessment. International collaboration for genomic markers of CVD and Diabetes. Further studies on Polypill, including Health Economic evaluation. Chief Investigator and Executive Committee (PS) for FOURIER. Trial of monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 in CVD prevention.
    • Local trials unit FOURIER, PATHWAY, HARMONY Trials. New studies on characterisation of patients with resistant hypertension.

    Researchers: Professor Peter Sever, Professor Simon Thom

    Digital health: Investigation into remote monitoring technologies

    • Collaboration between The British Heart Foundation, St Jude Medical, Boston Scientific and Medtronic looking at remote monitoring of heart failure patients with implantable devices (biventricular devices and internal defibrillators) called REM-HF. We did not demonstrate any improvement in mortality or hospitalisation, although patients did like the fact they were being monitored more closely than is usual.
    • Collaboration with St Jude Medical to establish the clinical impact of their "butterfly monitor" - a miniature wireless sensor that measures the pressure of blood in the pulmonary artery, the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs - in improving the outcome for patients with more severe heart failure. 

    Researchers: Professor Martin Cowie

    Heart failure management programmes

    • Helping to lead a global disease management quality improvement programme (OPTIMIZE-HF), in collaboration with Servier, with hospital protocols, patient check lists, and a patient passport and smart phone App.

    Researchers: Professor Martin Cowie