Integrated informatics-imaging approaches to cardiovascular disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of combined imaging and informatics based approaches to understanding cardiovascular disease.
IRAS ID
152959
Contact name
Jo-Anne Robertson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) is a common disorder that causes heart attacks. In the United Kingdom heart attacks are the commonest cause of death. Combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computer tomography (CT) scans are a new way of assessing atherosclerosis. Using the radiotracer 18F-Fluoride, we propose to perform combined PET CT scans on post-mortem hearts from subjects with or without a history of heart disease. We will then be able to compare the hot spots found on these scans with what we can see under the microscope when looking at heart artery specimens, assess which genes are switched on and proteins present in the hot spots. This will give us an insight into what hot spots on PET CT scans are identifying in areas of atherosclerosis. It will also provide us with new information relating to the underlying processes that give rise to atherosclerosis and the development of heart attacks. This will pave the way for the future development of new treatments.
Access to post-mortem hearts will also give a unique opportunity to apply to other cardiovascular pathological processes the techniques we will develop to investigate atherosclerosis. The PET/CT scan we propose to perform can also be used to investigate narrowing of the aortic heart valve due to the deposition calcium.
The gene and protein analysis tools we will use/develop to investigate atherosclerosis can also be applied to find new blood markers for predicting heart attacks and understanding how the heart muscle heals following a heart attack.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
14/SS/1090
Date of REC Opinion
28 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion