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Cardiovascular Clinical Research
Our research group conducts clinical studies, including observational (both prospective and retrospective) and randomized interventional trials, with the objective of enhancing the management of valvular heart disease, heart rhythm disorders and coronary artery disease through the application of advanced imaging techniques. Additionally, we possess expertise in Big Data analysis, systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
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Group Leader: Professor Vassilios Vassiliou
View my research profileI am a Professor of Cardiac Medicine at Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, and a Consultant Cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. My academic journey began with a medical degree from University College London, followed by a Master’s degree in Genomic Medicine from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from Imperial College London.
Postgraduate Research Opportunities
Please get in touch with us regarding PhD opportunities
Empagliflozin in moderate Aortic Stenosis
Aortic stenosis is a condition characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve, which impedes the ejection of blood from the left ventricle to the systemic circulation. Over time, this obstruction leads to increased pressure load and subsequent myocardial damage. Currently, no pharmacological interventions exist that effectively slow the progression of aortic stenosis or provide myocardial protection. Our NIHR-funded research is a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of the SGLT2 inhibitor, Empagliflozin, in mitigating myocardial damage associated with aortic stenosis.
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Empagliflozin in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source
Our research has demonstrated that a substantial proportion of patients with an Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS) are subsequently diagnosed with atrial myopathy—a pathological condition affecting atrial structure and function—and atrial fibrillation, which may elucidate the underlying etiology of their stroke. Currently, no pharmacological treatment exists to target atrial myopathy in post-ESUS patients. Our Wellcome Trust-funded randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the potential of the SGLT2 inhibitor, Empagliflozin, in modulating atrial myopathy in this patient population
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Interventional treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions
The coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium, enabling its contractile function. When these vessels become narrowed or occluded, it can lead to angina or myocardial infarction, often necessitating the use of drug-eluting stents—metallic scaffolds implanted to maintain vessel patency. Up to 20% of these cases involve bifurcations, where vessels branch, presenting greater technical challenges and an increased risk of complications due to the layers of metal from the stents. Our NIHR-funded research aims to identify using a prospective computational flow dynamics study and a retrospective observational study to identify the role of drug coated balloons rather than drug-eluding stents in the treatment of bifurcation lesions.
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Select Publications
Prevalence of asymptomatic valvular heart disease in the elderly population: a community-based echocardiographic study
View the publication onlineTsampasian V, Militaru C, Parasuraman SK, Loudon BL, Lowery C, Rudd A, Srinivasan J, Singh S, Dwivedi G, Mahadavan G, Dawson D, Clark A, Vassiliou VS, Frenneaux MP.Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2024 Jul 31;25(8):1051-1058. doi: 10.1093/ehjci/jeae127
The impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock post-acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
View the publication onlinePaddock S, Meng J, Johnson N, Chattopadhyay R, Tsampasian V, Vassiliou V.Eur Heart J Open. 2024 Jan 18;4(1):oeae003. doi: 10.1093/ehjopen/oeae003
Atrial fibrillation in embolic stroke of undetermined source: role of advanced imaging of left atrial function
View the publication onlineChousou PA, Chattopadhyay R, Ring L, Khadjooi K, Warburton EA, Mukherjee T, Bhalraam U, Tsampasian V, Potter J, Perperoglou A, Pugh PJ, Vassiliou VS.Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2023 Dec 21;30(18):1965-1974. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad228
Assessment of Paclitaxel Drug-Coated Balloon Only Angioplasty in STEMI
View the publication onlineMerinopoulos I, Gunawardena T, Corballis N, Bhalraam U, Reinhold J, Wickramarachchi U, Maart C, Gilbert T, Richardson P, Sulfi S, Sarev T, Sawh C, Wistow T, Ryding A, Mohamed MO, Perperoglou A, Mamas MA, Vassiliou VS, Eccleshall SC.JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2023 Apr 10;16(7):771-779. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2023.01.380
Risk Factors Associated With Post-COVID-19 Condition: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
View the publication onlineTsampasian V, Elghazaly H, Chattopadhyay R, Debski M, Naing TKP, Garg P, Clark A, Ntatsaki E, Vassiliou VS.JAMA Intern Med. 2023 Jun 1;183(6):566-580. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.0750