Supervisors and projects

Amrita Ahluwalia
Professor of Vascular Pharmacology and Director of the 4year MRes/PhD Scheme

Morris Brown
Professor of Endocrine Hypertension

 

   

Panos Deloukas
Professor of Cardiovascular Genomics

 

 

Philip Eaton
Professor of Cardiovascular Biochemistry

 

 

Feng Jun He
Professor of Global Health Research

 

 

Adrian Hobbs
Professor of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Leader of the Cardiac and Vascular MRes

 

 

Federica Marelli-Berg
BHF Chair of Cardiovascular Immunology, Head of Programme and Programme Co-ordinator 

 

 

Patricia Munroe
Professor of Molecular Medicine

 

 

Ken Suzuki
Professor of Translational Cardiovascular Therapeutics 

 

 

Andrew Tinker
Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology 

 

 

James Whiteford
Reader in Extracellular Matrix Biology and WHRI Director of Graduate Studies

 

Amrita Ahluwalia - Professor of Vascular Pharmacology and Director of the 4-Year MRes/PhD Scheme
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Investigations into the role of vascular inflammation in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The biology of nitrates and the pharmacology of bradykinin receptors in controlling cell trafficking and vascular reactivity.
Email: a.ahluwalia@qmul.ac.uk    

Dunja Aksentijevic - Reader in Cardiovascular Physiology and Metabolism, Wellcome Trust Career Re-Entry Fellow, Programme Lead MSc Clinical Drug Development, MSc Healthcare Research Methods, MRes Clinical Research
Research theme: Cardiac Physiology and Metabolism in Health and Disease
Research field: Investigating how metabolic remodelling contributes to the pathophysiology of heart failure.
Identification of novel metabolic therapeutic strategies to treat heart failure. The role of chronic inflammation in cardiac metabolic dysfunction.
Email: d.aksentijevic@qmul.ac.uk

Michael R. Barnes - Professor of Bioinformatics, NIHR Cardiovascular BRC
Research theme: Data Science
Research field: Computational Biology and Bioinformatics focused on Drug Discovery and Translational Research, building on 14 years pharma R&D experience. Active research across multidisciplinary fields, including systems biology and pathway approaches to the analysis of genetic and genomic data for target discovery, drug repositioning and biomarker identification. Development of cardiovascular clinical databases enabling data integration for stratified medicine development. Studies of cardiovascular disease pathology and drug pharmacogenetics using next-generation sequencing technologies (RNA-seq, Exomes, Chip-seq, Whole genomes). 
Email: m.r.barnes@qmul.ac.uk

Andreas Baumbach - Chair of Device Innovation
Research theme: Device Innovation
Research field: Research programme focussing on innovation and clinical trials related to cardiovascular devices.
Email: a.baumbach@qmul.ac.uk 

Karim Brohi - Professor of Trauma Sciences
Research theme: Cardiac Physiology and Metabolism in Health and Disease
Research field: ​Human Response to Injury: Experimental and clinical studies exploring the biology (inflammation, genomics, metabolomics) and physiology of cardiovascular, immune and coagulation dysfunction after injury
Email: k.brohi@qmul.ac.uk

Morris Brown - Professor of Endocrine Hypertension
Research theme: CV Genomics and Precision Medicine
Research field: Investigations into pathogenesis and treatment of aldosterone-producing adenomas of the adrenal. The discovery and role of somatic mutations, and of zona glomerulosa selective gene expression.
Email: morris.brown@qmul.ac.uk

Claudia Cabrera – Lecturer in Bioinformatics
Research theme: Data Science
Research field: Development and application of bioinformatics tools and methodologies for a better understanding of complex traits and diseases. Areas of research include genetical genomics data analysis of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and early response to trauma (injury) among others.
Email: c.cabrera@qmul.ac.uk

Mark Caulfield - Professor of Clinical Pharmacology 
Research theme: CV Genomics and Precision Medicine
Research field: Translational research programme is focused on elucidating the genetic basis of blood pressure and related phenotypes with the aim of identifying new therapies and translating them into clinical trials.
Email: m.j.caulfield@qmul.ac.uk

Li Chan – Professor of Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism
Research theme: Experimental models, Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation, Metabolism in health and disease 
Research Field: The role of melanocortin receptors and their accessory proteins in adrenal and metabolic dysfunction leading to obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A major aim of the laboratory is to develop new pharmacotherapies for management of obesity and its complications including cardiovascular disease utilising animal and cellular models of disease. 
Email: l.chan@qmul.ac.uk 

Paul Chapple - Professor of Molecular Cell Biology
Research theme: Regenerative Medicine and iPSC Biology 
Research field: Understanding the role of molecular chaperone and other cellular protein quality machineries in human health and disease.
Email: j.p.chapple@qmul.ac.uk

Rebecca Charles – BHF Intermediate Research Fellow
Research theme: Redox Signalling in Cardiovascular Health and Disease
Research field: Investigating the redox control of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and how this impacts cardiovascular health and pulmonary hypertension. My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of how oxidants regulate sEH along with developing drugs which can target sEH to provide new therapies.
Email: r.charles@qmul.ac.uk    

Jianmin Chen - Lecturer in Inflammation and Cardiovascular Medicine
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: My research is focused on understanding cellular/molecular dysregulation and cardiac metabolism alterations in heart failure induced by either acute or chronic cardiac inflammation, with the aim of developing novel therapeutics against heart failure.
Email: jianmin.chen@qmul.ac.uk  

Dianne Cooper - Reader in Inflammation Biology
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis 
Research field: My research is focussed on understanding the multi-faceted biological functions of galectins and their interlink with other pivotal mediators in inflammation-driven pathologies with specific emphasis on leukocyte recruitment and whether galectins have a role in the persistence of inflammatory infiltrates in chronic inflammation.
Email: d.cooper@qmul.ac.uk

Gabor Czibik - Senior Lecturer in Metabolism
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Studies into how changes in amino acid metabolism may impact cardiovascular and metabolic health and disease. 
Email: gaborczibik@yahoo.com

Jesmond Dalli - Professor of Molecular Pharmacology
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: My translational research is focused on the structural elucidation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-derived bioactive lipid mediators, assessing their cellular targets and the molecular mechanisms through which these mediators exert their actions in the resolution of inflammation.
Email: j.dalli@qmul.ac.uk

Panos Deloukas - Professor of Cardiovascular Genomics and Director of the WHRI
Research theme: CV Genomics and Precision Medicine
Research field: Our group investigates the molecular basis of complex traits in humans focusing on coronary heart disease (CHD) and related cardiometabolic traits. To identify the functional variants underlying CHD risk we are integrating genetic findings with gene expression and DNA methylation QTL maps as well as open chromatin maps in relevant cell types.
Email: p.deloukas@qmul.ac.uk

Lalit Dubey - Lecturer in Immunology
Research theme: Global Health, Cardiac Physiology and Metabolism in Health and Disease
Research field: Research in my lab primarily focus on bridging the lymphoid stromal biology to global health problems. Our group is interested in understanding the biology of Fibroblastic Reticular Cells (FRCs) and Lymphatic Endothelial Cells (LECs) organization and function in tissue dependent context. By using a combination of fibroblastic and lymphatic endothelial-specific knock-out and knock-in systems in mouse models and ex vivo assays combined with state of art imaging technologies developed in the lab we would like to explore the cardiac stromal biology during homeostasis and inflammatory settings.
Email: lalit.dubey@qmul.ac.uk 

Neil Dufton - Lecturer in Inflammatory Sciences
Research theme: High-Resolution Imaging of Vascular Fibrosis
Research field: Understanding the role of endothelial plasticity in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disease. My research focuses on pathways, such as Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EndMT), that give rise to disease-associated endothelial populations following myocardial infarction.
Email: n.dufton@qmul.ac.uk 

Philip Eaton - Professor of Cardiovascular Biochemistry
Research theme: Redox Signalling in Cardiovascular Health and Disease
Research field: Whilst oxidants can contribute to the pathogenesis of disease, accumulating evidence shows these reactive species also have important roles in maintaining healthy function. We identify proteins that serve as oxidant seniors and define their roles in the regulation of arteries or the heart. A key aim is to develop drugs with oxidant-like properties that target the sensor proteins we identify to provide new therapies for cardiovascular disease.
Email: p.eaton@qmul.ac.uk    

Ajay Gupta - Clinical Reader in Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology
Research theme: Data Science; Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Clinical Trials (both pharmacological or device-based)
Research field: Research Programme focused on preventing adverse cardiovascular outcomes amongst those at high risk (such as those with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, special risk populations) using various themes including data science and novel clinical trials ( pharmacological or device-based) and investigations. Particular focus is on translational studies, novel therapies, and effective preventative strategies/pathways. Ethnic differences. Big participant-level meta-analysis. Cardiovascular haemodynamics and autonomic dysfunction in special populations. Large population-based and pragmatic clinical trials. 
Email: ajay.gupta@qmul.ac.uk 

Yang Hao - Professor of Antennas and Electromagnetics
Research theme: Device Innovation
Research field: Wireless wearable sensors for physiological monitoring; Wireless implants for targeted drug delivery and cardiovascular monitoring; Nanomaterials including graphene and smart materials for Wearable Sensors and Personalised Neural Network; AI and Machine Learning for health and emotion sensing.
Email: y.hao@qmul.ac.uk 

Feng He - Professor of Global Health Research
Research theme: Nutrition and Global Health  
Research field: Diet and non-communicable disease prevention, with a particular focus on reducing dietary salt, sugar and saturated fat intake at the population level.
Email: f.he@qmul.ac.uk 

Sian Henson - Professor in Immunology
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis 
Research field: Investigations into the dysregulation T cell metabolism during senescence and how this maintains an inflammatory deleterious state. Furthermore how changes in key metabolic regulators with senescence leads to alterations in T cell trafficking. 
Email: s.henson@qmul.ac.uk

Adrian Hobbs - Professor of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Leader of the Cardiac and Vascular MRes
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: The physiological and pathological actions and interactions of guanylyl cyclases in the cardiovascular system; impact on pulmonary artery hypertension and systemic blood pressure.
Email: a.j.hobbs@qmul.ac.uk

Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke - Professor of Angiogenesis
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis 
Research field: Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is essential for tumour growth and cancer spread. Modulation of angiogenesis is therefore a logical approach to cancer treatment. Our research aims to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis, vascular leakage and lymphangiogenesis, using a combination of endothelial, pericyte and lymphatic endothelial-specific knock-out and knock-in systems in mouse models of cancer and other vascular diseases, and ex vivo angiogenesis assays and analysis of the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind these observations.
Email: k.hodivala-dilke@qmul.ac.uk

Thomas Iskratsch - Reader in Cardiovascular Mechanobiology and Bioengineering
Research theme: Cardiovascular Mechanobiology
Research field: Multidisciplinary research program investigating the molecular mechanisms of the sensing of mechanical signals in cardiovascular health and disease.
Email: t.iskratsch@qmul.ac.uk 

Dan Jones - Clinical Senior Lecturer of Clinical Trials in Cardiovascular Intervention 
Research theme: Improving Outcomes for the patient with coronary artery disease (translational pharmacology, and device-based) 
Research field: Research Programme focused on optimising procedures and outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease, specifically those post MI/PCI, targeting those at high risk (Post CABG, refractory angina). Nitrate/Nitrite in prevention of target organ damage. Regenerative medicine. Health Economics.
Email: daniel.jones@qmul.ac.uk 

Stavroula Kanoni - Senior Lecturer in Nutrigenetics and Cardiovascular Health 
Research theme: CV Genomics and Precision Medicine
Research field: Genetic architecture of complex traits and the biological links between diet/lifestyle and cardiometabolic traits.
Email: s.kanoni@qmul.ac.uk 

Vikas Kapil - Clinical Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models 
Research field: Novel treatments (pharmacotherapy, lifestyle, devices) for hypertension and autonomic dysfunction. Translational human cardiovascular studies. Biology of nitrite/nitrate in cardio-metabolic disease.
Email: v.kapil@qmul.ac.uk 

David Kelsell - Professor of Human Molecular Genetics
Research theme: CV Genomics and Precision Medicine
Research field: My work is based largely on the molecular mechanisms underlying primarily inherited monogenic disease. Examples of current studies include investigating disease mechanisms in both skin and heart associated with keratoderma and sudden cardiac death.
Email: d.p.kelsell@qmul.ac.uk

Martin Knight - Professor of Mechanobiology
Research theme: Device Innovation
Research field: My research concerns three interconnected area: organ-on-a-chip, mechanobiology and primary cilia.  I am actively involved in the development of novel organ-on-a-chip models which replicate the in vivo cellular environment to support fundamental research and the development of new therapeutics. I am co-director of the UK organ-on-a-chip technologies network and Director of the Queen Mary & Emulate Organs-on-chips Centre. I am a Professor of Mechanobiology and investigate how cells sense and respond to their mechanical environment. Mechanobiology is essential for the health and functionality of many tissues and therefore has potential application in various medical therapies from tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to pharmaceuticals as well as incorporation into 'organ-on-a-chip' models. A particular focus of my research involves the role of primary cilia in mechanobiology, health and disease and the potential of novel cilia based treatments.
Email: m.m.knight@qmul.ac.uk 

Márta Korbonits - Professor in Endocrinology
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Studies into the clinical, biochemical and genetic characteristics of patients with endocrine disorders.
Email: m.korbonits@qmul.ac.uk

Rob Krams - Professor in Molecular Bioengineering
Research theme: Molecular Engineering Innovations and Physiology
Research field: cardiac engineering, CRISPr, noncoding RNA, new therapeutics
Email: r.krams@qmul.ac.uk 

David Lee - Professor of Cell & Tissue Engineering
Research theme: Device Innovation
Research field: Mechanobiology, involving studying the effects of mechanical forces on stem and differentiated cells. Specific focus has been placed on the signalling pathways that transduce a mechanical stimulus into a biological response with particular emphasis on reorganisation of the nucleus.
Email: d.a.lee@qmul.ac.uk

Fiona Lewis-McDougall - Lecturer in Mycordial Repair and Regeneration
Research theme: Regenerative Medicine and iPSC Biology 
Research field: Fiona’s research focuses on understanding the effect of ageing on stem cell regerative potential for cardiac repair and regeneration. She is currently pursuing two major research themes: (1) Influence of donor age/disease on iPSC potential and (2) Exosomes for cardiac repair and regeneration.
Email: f.lewis@qmul.ac.uk 

Paula Longhi - Reader in Dendritic Cell Biology and BHF Intermediate Fellow
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis 
Research field: Study of the role of Dendritic cells in the control of vascular inflammation in atherosclerosis. Investigation of Dendritic cells-adipose tissue cross-talk in the control of adipose tissue inflammation and its contribution to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Email: m.longhi@qmul.ac.uk

Simon Lucas - Professor of Artificial Intelligence
Research theme: Data Science
Research field: Artificial General Intelligence, AI and Games, Evolutionary Algorithms, Optimisation, Game AI for Real-World Decision Making, Director of Game AI Research Group at QMUL.
Email: simon.lucas@qmul.ac.uk   

Graham Macgregor - Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
Research theme: Global Health
Research field: Translational research on diet, blood pressure and public health: focus on reformulation of food to reduce salt, sugar and fat.
Email: g.macgregor@qmul.ac.uk 

Federica Marelli-Berg - BHF Chair of Cardiovascular Immunology, Head of Programmes and Programme Co-ordinator
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis 
Research field: Investigations into the dynamics and mechanisms of regulatory and memory T cell trafficking.
Email: f.marelli-berg@qmul.ac.uk 

Eirini Marouli - Senior Lecturer in Computational Biology
Research theme: CV Genomics and Precision Medicine
Research field: Gene discovery for common diseases and quantitative traits, including height and adiposity. She has a leading role and contributions in global consortia (GIANT, ThyroidOmics, GLGC, CHARGE CARDIoGRAMplusC4D) for complex traits and diseases. In addition to gene discovery efforts, Dr Marouli is also interested in genetic-epigenetic approaches to complex phenotypes. Dr Marouli’s research is also focusing on thyroid disease, implementing causal inference and mendelian randomisation approaches, to elucidate the genetic interplay between risk factors and disease.
Email: e.marouli@qmul.ac.uk   

Anthony Mathur - Professor of Cardiology
Research theme: Regenerative Medicine and iPSC Biology
Research field: Translational cardiology targeting new biological and interventional approaches to the ‘no option patient’. Stem cell therapy for cardiac disease. Development and testing of new cardiovascular devices.
Email: a.mathur@qmul.ac.uk

Peter McCormick - Professor in Cellular Pharmacology
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Drug discovery targeting G-protein coupled receptors in disease.
Email: p.mccormick@qmul.ac.uk  

Borislava Mihaylova - Professor of Health Economics
Research themes: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation; Device Innovation; CV Genomics and Precision Medicine; Global Health
Research field: The economics of cardiovascular interventions and translating innovation into health systems and health policy.
Email: b.mihaylova@qmul.ac.uk  

Patricia Munroe - Professor of Molecular Medicine
Research theme: CV Genomics and Precision Medicine
Research field: The genetic and molecular basis of hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias.
Email: p.b.munroe@qmul.ac.uk

Suchita Nadkarni - Senior Lecturer in Immunology and BHF Fellow
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis 
Research field: Suchita’s work focuses on the role of the maternal immune system in shaping pregnancy outcomes. Suchita is specifically interested in how maternal neutrophils can influence T-cell responses and how such interactions can regulate placental development (see image) and her main disease area of interest is pre-eclampsia In addition to their roles in placental development. Suchita is also interested in how neutrophil-T cell interactions can influence maternal cardiovascular responses during pregnancy and fetal development.
Email: s.nadkarni@qmul.ac.uk

Tom Nightingale - Reader in Cell Biology
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis 
Research field: Investigations into the role, mechanism and functional significance of intracellular trafficking in endothelial cells on haemostasis and inflammation.
Email: t.nightingale@qmul.ac.uk

Lucy Norling – Versus Arthritis Senior Fellow
Research theme:  Establishing the role of omega-3 derived lipid mediators and microvesicles in the resolution of inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
Email: l.v.norling@qmul.ac.uk 

Mauro Perretti - Professor of Immunopharmacology
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis
Research field: Pioneered the concept of endogenous anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving mediators and pathways, studying their impact on the immune response within the vasculature as well as the target organ (joint, heart, kidney, liver). Our lab has established expertise in the running of in-vivo models of inflammation, spanning from protocols to study leukocyte recruitment to models of ischaemia-reperfusion, Intravital microscopy, together with deep analyses of neutrophil biology in static and under flow condition. In the last years, developed an interest in the exploitation of novel ligands toward anti-inflammatory GPCRs as novel therapeutic entities, together with an interest in the biology of leukocyte-derived microvesicles.
Email: m.perretti@qmul.ac.uk

Steffen Petersen - Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
Research theme: Data Science 
Research field: Clinical trials using CMR, cost-effectiveness analysis related to cardiac imaging and primary prevention, large scale population-based studies using CMR (UK Biobank cardiac imaging lead) and electronic health record research that incorporates cardiac imaging data.
Email: s.e.petersen@qmul.ac.uk

Andy Pendergrast - Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunology 
Research theme: Global Health
Research field: Global health, embedding mechanistic laboratory studies within pragmatic clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa, to address healthy birth, growth and development across the life-course.
Email: a.pendergrast@qmul.ac.uk 

Claudio Raimondi - BHF Intermediate Research Fellow and Lecturer in Endothelial Cell Biology
Research theme: Signalling pathways discovery in vascular homeostasis and cardiovascular disease
Research field: Investigation of the role of endothelial dysfunction in vascular inflammation and vascular disease. The role of Neuropilin-1 and TGF-Beta signalling in controlling endothelial homeostasis and vascular function.
Email: claudio.raimondi@qmul.ac.uk

Krishnaraj Rathod - Clinical Senior Lecturer (WHRI), NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer (QMUL), Senior Interventional Cardiology Registrar (Barts Heart Centre)
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Investigating sex differences following cardiovascular disease. Impact of resolution on inflammation in cardiovascular disease. Nitrate/Nitrite in prevention of target organ damage. Regenerative medicine. Translational human cardiovascular studies. Biology of nitrite/nitrate in cardio-metabolic disease. Investigations into the role of vascular inflammation in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. 

Antal Rot - Wellcome Trust Investigator and Arthritis Research UK Chair in Inflammation Sciences
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis 
Research field: Antal’s research interests are related to the molecular and cellular mechanisms of inflammation and the involvement of chemokines, their classical and atypical receptors in immune response and disease pathogenesis.
Email: a.rot@qmul.ac.uk

Vahitha Abdul Salam - Lecturer in Vascular Pharmacology 
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Role of chloride intracellular channel proteins in cardiopulmonary diseases.
Email: v.abdulsalam@qmul.ac.uk 

Egle Solito - Reader in Immunobiology and Education Centre Lead
Research Theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis
Research Field: Investigating the impact of infection, metabolism, and aging on the immune-cerebrovascular system. Our aim is to understand the mechanism of immune cell trafficking across barriers of the central nervous system in diseases such as vascular dementia.
Email: e.solito@qmul.ac.uk 

Manikandan Subramanian - Senior Lecturer in Cardiovascular Inflammation
Research theme: Cardiovascular Inflammation and Angiogenesis
Research field: Investigating mechanisms of dysregulated inflammation resolution in advanced atherosclerosis. Exploring pro-efferocytic therapies as novel targets for atherosclerotic plaque stabilization.

Ken Suzuki - Professor of Translational Cardiovascular Therapeutics
Research theme: Regenerative Medicine and iPSC Biology 
Research field: Translational research to develop novel approaches for treating heart failure, including cell-based therapy, gene therapy and regenerative therapy. Also developing interest innate immunity in the heart (i.e. TRL signalling in cardiomyocytes and alternatively activated macrophages).
Email: ken.suzuki@qmul.ac.uk

Chris Thiemermann - Professor of Pharmacology
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Investigations into the pathophysiology of circulatory failure, systemic inflammation and organ injury dysfunction (including multiple organ failure) associated with sepsis, trauma, haemorrhage and ischaemia/reperfusion including myocardial infarction, heart failure, acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. In particular, investigation of the effects of aging and diabetes on outcomes (in the above disease states) and the development of novel and translatable treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes in acute MI, perioperative care, trauma-haemorrhage, sepsis, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and diabetic nephropathy.
Email: c.thiemermann@qmul.ac.uk

James Timmons - Reader in Translational Bioinformatics
Research Theme: Studies in neuromuscular aging and cardio-metabolic disease, incorporating spatial and bulk transcriptomics
Research Field: The human neuromuscular aging process interacts with cardiovascular and metabolic disease to drive disease burden. I utilise spatial and bulk transcriptomics, combined with deep physiological phenotyping to identify the molecular drivers of disease and attempt to link these with the molecular action of drugs that can be used as treatments.
Email: j.timmons@qmul.ac.uk 

Andrew Tinker - Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology
Research theme: CV Genomics and Precision Medicine
Research field: I am interested in what role potassium channels and cell signalling proteins play in cardiac (patho)physiology. The question is how these might act to reinforce normal heart rhythm or act as substrates for cardiac arrhythmia. We have specific interests in a range of potassium channels and heterotrimeric G-protein signalling in the heart and blood vessels. Technically we are using unique strains of genetically modified mice either generated by ourselves and\or provided by collaborators. We combine this with complex murine phenotyping capabilities including ex-vivo single-cell electrophysiology and imaging of cardiac myocytes (ventricular, atrial and SA nodal), in-vivo telemetry in awake conscious mice to measure heart rate, heart rate variability and document abnormal rhythm, blood pressure and in-vivo electrophysiology studies with programmed electrical stimulation to induce arrhythmia. We have an established track record in molecular and cellular studies. I have several distinctive research strands being pursued in my laboratory with work on ATP-sensitive K+ channels, G-protein gated inwardly rectifying K+ channels and cardiac channelopathies.
Email: a.tinker@qmul.ac.uk

David Van Heel - Professor of Genetics
Research theme: CV Genomics and Precision Medicine
Research field: East London Genes & Health is a long-term bioresource of Bangladeshi and Pakistani adults in East London, with DNA, e-health records and recall for further studies. The resource supports many different areas of research. My particular research interests are in naturally occurring human gene knockouts; and in a large scale East London non-invasive cardio-metabolic phenotyping program (body & visceral fat, liver fat, retinal imaging, blood biomarkers).
Email: d.vanheel@qmul.ac.uk 

Diego Villar Lozano - Non-clinical Senior Lecturer 
Research theme: Cardiovascular Epigenomics
Research field: Investigations into the interplay of genetics and environment in the cardiovascular system, combining computational and experimental approaches in ex vivomammalian tissue, human induced pluripotent stem cell models and mouse models of cardiac stress.
Email: d.villarlozano@qmul.ac.uk 

Mathieu-Benoit Voisin - Lecturer in Immunology 
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis
Research field: Investigations into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neutrophil trafficking into the lymphatic system & lymphoid organs and their regulatory role on T-cell functions during the development of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders.
Email: m.b.voisin@qmul.ac.uk 

Paul Vulliamy - Senior Clinical Lecturer and Training Interface Group Fellow in Major Trauma
Research Theme: CV inflammation and angiogenesis
Research Field: My research is focused on understanding how platelets influence recovery following tissue damage. I have a particular interest in the non-haemostatic roles of platelets, including their contributions to vascular inflammation and organ dysfunction. A key aim is to understand how changes in platelet function lead to adverse outcomes after tissue injury and ischaemia.
Email: p.e.d.vulliamy@qmul.ac.uk 

Helen Warren - Senior Lecturer in Statistical Genetics
Research theme: Data Science
Research field: Genetic association analyses of blood pressure, ECG and other cardiovascular traits for gene discovery. Pharmacogenetics analyses of anti-hypertensive drug response and of statin response. Genetic risk prediction. Statistical genetics methodology and analyses using ASCOT, BRIGHT and UK Biobank cohorts, as well as leading projects within international genetics consortia.
Email: h.r.warren@qmul.ac.uk 

Tim Warner - Professor of Vascular Inflammation
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Investigations into influences of prostanoids and other vascular mediators on platelet and blood vessel wall reactivity.
Email: t.d.warner@qmul.ac.uk 

James Whiteford - Reader in Extracellular Matrix Biology
Research theme: CV Inflammation and Angiogenesis 
Research field: Investigations into the mechanisms of angiogenesis and the development of novel anti-angiogenic therapeutic reagents.
Email: j.whiteford@qmul.ac.uk

Jianhua Wu- Professor of Biostatistics and Health Data Science
Research theme: Data Science
Research field: The application of statistical and data science techniques using electronic health records/longitudinal data to investigate the disease trajectories, early detection and diagnosis, health and inequalities and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, particularly focusing on myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation.
Email: jianhua.wu@qmul.ac.uk

Qingzhong Xiao - Professor of Stem Cell and Cardiovascular Disease
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Investigations into the role of stem/progenitor cells, proteases and other genes-of-interest in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases; Vascular cell differentiation from stem cells and molecular mechanisms involved; or direct conversion of other somatic cells into vascular cells and its application.
Email: q.xiao@qmul.ac.uk

Muhammad Magdi Yaqoob - Professor of Nephrology
Research theme: Pharmacotherapeutic Innovation and Experimental Models
Research field: Pathogenesis of acute and chronic uraemia (with and without diabetes) and its complications (cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, haematological, immunological and genetic). Investigations include the examination of downstream effects of acute and chronic kidney injury in clinical subjects and in experimental models, both in vivo and in vitro.
Email: m.yaqoob@qmul.ac.uk

September 2017

Our first intake of students completed their MRes course in September 2014 and started their PhD projects in October 2014. They finished in September 2017.

• James Cartwright: 'Functional studies of novel genetic variants in candidate genes for stillbirth', with Prof Patricia Munroe.
• Fearon Cassidy*: 'Evaluating adipocyte precursor development in response to a compromised in-utero environment, with implications for lifelong alterations to metabolic health', with Dr Marika Charalambous.
• Sandy Chu: 'Delineating a role for C-type natriuretic peptide in cardiac function', with Prof Adrian Hobbs.
• Lorna Gee: 'Investigation of the effects of inorganic nitrate on blood pressure-dependent and independent cardiac dysfunction', with Prof Amrita Ahluwalia.
• Melissa Hayman*: 'Platelet transcriptomics and thrombosis', with Prof Tim Warner.
• Gareth Purvis: 'Effect of diabetes on acute kidney injury (AKI) and its progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD)', with Prof Chris Thiemermann.

(* denotes students match-funded by the School of Medicine and Dentistry)