Cardiovascular Research Group
Welcome to the Cardiovascular Research Group
The Cardiovascular Research Group brings together highly complementary expertise, enabling collaborative multi- and interdisciplinary research. Expertise within the group includes the fundamental biology of cardiovascular health and the molecular mechanisms involved in cardiovascular disease. Specific areas of research interests encompass endothelial and smooth muscle cell biology, cellular signalling, membrane biology and electrophysiology. The group performs cutting-edge research into a range of diseases and conditions associated with the malfunction of the cardiovascular system, including atherosclerosis, cardiac and vascular fibrosis, arrhythmias, type 2 and gestational diabetes, as well as pulmonary hypertension. To increase the impact of our research we work with vascular surgeons, structural biologists, computational scientists, as well as members of the public.
Recent news
Leducq Foundation network grant
Professor Mark Boyett is part of a multinational network grant from the Leducq Foundation entitled "Fighting against sinus node dysfunction and associated arrhythmias". The 6 million USD grant will investigate sinus node dysfunction (also known as sick sinus syndrome) with the aim to develop better therapeutics.
Northern Cell Biology Forum 2022
On 23 September 2022, many members of the Cardiovascular Research Group attended the North of England Cell Biology Forum in Manchester. Interest into the research carried out at Bradford was high and PhD students from the group presented four posters and one talk.
BBA Rising Stars Award 2022
Kirsten Riches-Suman has won the BBA Rising Stars award for Molecular Basis of Disease. Kirsten was short-listed as a finalist for the international award and invited to publish a review article on her research field, alongside 7 other finalists. This article was published earlier this year. The executive editors of BBA then appraised the finalists publications and gave the award to Kirsten on the basis of her scientific innovation, rigour and vision.
Northern Cardiovascular Research Group Meeting 2022
The 2022 meeting of the Northern Cardiovascular Research Group was held at Bradford University on 24th May. It was organised by Dr Matt Hardy with the help of Dr Jacobo Elies, Dr Kirsten Riches-Suman and Dr Munir Hussain and attracted 102 registered delegates from across the UK. The 2022 meeting brought together researchers and clinicians with a common interest in cardiovascular physiology and pathology and included a fantastic programme of talks and posters. The keynote speaker of the meeting was Dr. Samantha Pitt from the University of St. Andrews who discussed how “Cellular zinc shapes calcium dynamics in the heart".
Public Event: Pint of Science
Three academics from the Cardiovascular Research Group took part in the inaugural 'Pint of Science' Bradford event - the first time that this national initiative has set up a programme in our city. On Monday 9th May, Dr Jacobo Elies talked at the Bradford Sweet Centre about the possible beneficial use of toxic gasses such as hydrogen sulphide in cardiovascular health. On Wednesday 11th May, Professor Anne Graham and Dr Kirsten Riches-Suman talked at the Theatre in the Mill about the heart and blood vessels, and how age impacts them.
UNIfy Festival 2022
The Cardiovascular Research Group was represented with a stand at the CommUNIty Open Day of the UNIfy Festival 2022 on Saturday 26th March. The research team worked together with Clinical Sciences to interact with the public on the topics of "Hearts and Blood Vessels" and the "Clinical Sciences Health Check". Visitors could see real blood vessel cells in a microscope, explore models of hearts and blood vessels, check their blood pressure and body fat, or check out blood flow using a hand-held ultrasound device.
Please also follow us on Twitter: @CardiovascBfd.
Recent publications
VEGF Stimulates Activation of ERK5 in the Absence of C-Terminal Phosphorylation Preventing Nuclear Localization and Facilitating AKT Activation in Endothelial Cells.
Mondru AK, Aljasir MA, Alrumayh A, Nithianandarajah GN, Ahmed K, Muller J, Goldring CEP, Wilm B, Cross MJ
Cells 12(6): 967.
Non-canonical role of the sympathetic nervous system in the circadian rhythm in heart rate.
Anderson C, Forte G, Hu W, Zhang H, Boyett MR, D’Souza A
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B (in press)
Remodelling and dysfunction of the sinus node in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Logantha SJRJ, Yamanushi TT, Absi M, Temple IP, Kabuto H, Hirakawa E, Quigley G, Zhang X, Gurney AM, Hart G, Zhang H, Dobrzynski H, Boyett MR, Yanni J
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B (in press)
Identifying and targeting the molecular signature of smooth muscle cells undergoing early vascular ageing.
Riches-Suman K, Hussain A.
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2022 Jul 1;1868(7):166403.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166403
Downregulation of Vascular Hemeoxygenase-1 Leads to Vasculopathy in Systemic Sclerosis.
Ross RL, Mavria G, Del Galdo F, Elies J
Front Physiol. 2022 May 5;13:900631
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.900631
Efficacy of interval exercise training to improve vascular health in sedentary postmenopausal females.
Lyall GK, Birk GK, Harris E, Ferguson C, Riches-Suman K, Kearney MT, Porter KE, Birch KM.
Physiol Rep. 2022 Aug;10(16):e15441
doi: 10.14814/phy2.15441
Impact of Pharmacist-Led Interventions to Improve Clinical Outcomes for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes at Risk of Developing Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Alabkal RM, Medlinskiene K, Silcock J, Graham A.
J Pharm Pract. 2022 May 17:8971900211064459
doi: 10.1177/08971900211064459
Preservation of Smooth Muscle Cell Integrity and Function: A Target for Limiting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Expansion?
Clark ER, Helliwell RJ, Bailey MA, Hemmings KE, Bridge KI, Griffin KJ, Scott DJA, Jennings LM, Riches-Suman K, Porter KE.
Cells. 2022 Mar 19;11(6):1043
doi: 10.3390/cells11061043
Please follow this link for additional publications: Full list of our recent publications
Our PhD students
The Cardiovascular Research Group has a vibrant PhD student population. The group currently includes 16 PhD students working on a range of cardiovascular research projects. For a list of currently open PhD projects, please visit the PhD projects pages.
Cardiovascular Research Group members
The group currently consists of the following researchers that perform collaborative, multi-disciplinary work to advance cardiovascular research at the University of Bradford. To inquire about our research, please email the group lead, Jürgen Müller.