Founded in 2008, Leeds’ Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre (MCRC) is an ambitious strategy for discovering causes and treatments of heart disease. It transcends traditional scientific and departmental boundaries to bring the full weight of the UK’s second largest university and the city of Leeds’ teaching hospitals to bear on the primary reason for premature death and disability in westernized societies.
MCRC's mission is to advance understanding of cardiovascular disease and thereby improve human life. It has particular focus on: (1) Revealing mechanisms of vascular disease and associated changes in the myocardium for the generation of therapeutics; (2) Using engineering and other fundamental disciplines to find innovative approaches for cardiovascular diagnosis and protection; and (3) Developing new investigators.
Primary research areas are organised in multidisciplinary programme groups:
Cardiovascular Imaging
Led by Dr Sven Plein and Professor David Buckley, the group focuses on the development and clinical application of innovative cardiovascular imaging methods. The group is multidisciplinary in nature with a diverse membership including computational biologists, medical physicists and clinicians enabling translational solutions to a range of imaging questions. Innovations by the group include: depth-resolved optical imaging of cardiac electrical activity; high-resolution myocardial perfusion MRI, development of quantitative methods for analysis of imaging data and large scale clinical imaging studies. For further information, see the MCRC brochure and the individual web pages of investigators.
Endothelial Cell Biology and Diabetes
Led by Professor Mark Kearney and Dr Vas Ponnambalam, the group investigates molecular mechanisms and endothelial cell function such as insulin-sensitivity, new blood vessel growth and lipid accumulation. Discoveries made by the group include: protection against obesity and hypertension by IGF-1 BP2; VEGFR2 trafficking, proteolysis and signalling; and LOX-1 scavenger receptor-mediated trafficking of pro-atherogenic lipid particles. For further information, see the MCRC brochure and the individual web pages of investigators.
Atherothrombosis and Diabetes
Led by Professor Peter Grant and Dr Ramzi Ajjan, the group focuses on understanding the molecular basis of the tight biological link between diabetes and atherothrombotic vascular disease using model systems to develop translational approaches that modulate these disorders in man. Discoveries made by the group include: Understanding genetic contributions to thrombotic phenotypes; Interaction between acetylation and glycation to explain reduced cardioprotective properties of aspirin in diabetes. For further information, see the MCRC brochure and the individual web pages of investigators.
Cardiovascular Drug Discovery and Development
Led by Professor David Beech and Professor Colin Fishwick, the group focuses on the identification of new cardiovascular drug targets, the discovery of new drug-like chemical entities that modulate cardiovascular targets, and the application of known drugs to new cardiovascular indications. The group combines biologists, chemists and clinicians with expertise in a range of areas including molecular and cellular biochemistry, organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, computer-based drug design, high-throughput screening, chemical biology, and cardiovascular-targeted medicine and surgery. Recent activity includes the discovery of new molecules directed towards important cardiovascular targets including blood clotting factors and novel calcium channels. For further information, see the MCRC brochure and the individual web pages of investigators.
Cardiovascular Engineering
Led by Professor Eileen Ingham and Dr Sotirios Korossis, the group focuses on the generation and commercialisation of cardiovascular tissues with specific interests in heart valves, vascular patches, A-V grafts and small diameter conduits. Innovations by the Group include: Invention of the Vascutek bioprosthetic heart valve implanted in tens of thousands of patients world-wide; Development of an acellular xenogeneic aortic valve conduit, with pre-clinical proof of principle of regenerative capacity. For further information, see the MCRC brochure and the individual web pages of investigators.
Cardiac Muscle and Neuronal Control
Led by Professor Jim Deuchars and Professor Derek Steele, the group primarily investigates control of the heart; from nervous control to the myocardium itself. Its investigations are conducted at many levels, from molecular and cellular studies (including cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts) to the intact heart, through to assessment of autonomic function in human subjects and computer simulations. Interests encompass cardiac function in health and disease (e.g. heart failure, hypoxia). Topics include caveolar modulation of signalling in the cardiac myocyte, sarcoplasmic reticulum and nuclear calcium signalling, regulation of cardiac fibroblast function, neuronal circuits controlling sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow and their effects of cardiovascular function, electrical, mechanical and structural interactions in the myocardium and their remodelling in disease, as well as remodelling in the vasculature and effects of hypoxia on neuronal and vascular function. For further information, see the MCRC brochure and the individual web pages of investigators.
Head of Centre: Professor David J Beech
Clinical Director: Dr John Greenwood
Leeds is a city of about 750,000 people, sitting on the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales countryside. Its oldest university, the University of Leeds, is amongst the largest of the UK's research-led universities, with its main campus in the city centre and joining the General Infirmary - one of the city's two major hospitals.
