Key aims and expertise
The cardiovascular research groups are centred around cardiovascular system and includes researching cardiac disorders, angiogenesis and metabolism. Current projects include investigations into cardiac valve disease, particularly the molecular mechanisms underpinning valvular regurgitation and dynamic function in equines and companion animals (Bowen, Hallowell, Cobb), the role of embryonic myosin heavy chain and ANF in early heart development (Rutland), HIV-related pulmonary hypertension in a nonhuman primates (White), the impact of chronic heart failure on adipose tissue structure and physiology and functional plasticity following rescue by cardiac-specific gene therapy (Mostyn), and blood pressure control and inflammatory markers in dogs with cardiac disease (White). Collaborations within the cardiovascular research group include researchers from SVMS, veterinary clinics across the UK, University of Nottingham Medical School and external researchers including those from University of Missouri, University College London, Imperial and King’s College London.
Current projects
1. Genetics of cardiovascular disease
2. Mechanisms of cardiac development
3. Genetics of canine cardiovascular disease
4. Blood pressure control and inflammatory markers in dogs with cardiac disease
5. HIV-related pulmonary hypertension in a nonhuman primate model
6. Histology of captive macaque pulmonary vasculature
7. Impact of chronic heart failure on adipose tissue structure and physiology, and functional plasticity following rescue by cardiac-specific gene therapy
8. Blood pressure control and inflammatory markers in dogs with cardiac disease
Significant results
- HALLOWELL GD, BOWEN M. Reliability and identification of aortic valve prolapse in the horse. BMC Vet Res. 2013 Jan 11;9:9. doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-9. PubMed PMID: 23311963; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3547808
- BARNETT L, MARTIN MW, TODD J, SMITH S, COBB M. A retrospective study of 153 cases of undiagnosed collapse, syncope or exercise intolerance: the outcomes. J Small Anim Pract. 2011 Jan;52(1):26-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2010.01013.x. PubMed PMID: 21175622.
- RUTLAND, C.S., POLO-PARADA, L., EHLER, E., ALIBHAI, A., THORPE, A., SUREN, S., EMES, R.D., PATEL, B. and LOUGHNA, S., 2011. Knockdown of embryonic myosin heavy chain reveals an essential role in the morphology and function of the developing heart Development. 138(18), 3955-3966
- WALSH, R., RUTLAND, C., THOMAS, R. and LOUGHNA, S., 2010. Cardiomyopathy: a systematic review of disease-causing mutations in myosin heavy chain 7 and their phenotypic manifestations Cardiology. 115(1), 49-60
- RUTLAND, C, THORPE, A, ALIBHAI, A, POLO-PARADA, L and LOUGHNA, S, 2009. Knockdown of embryonic myosin heavy chain leads to abnormal development and electrical activity of the heart In: 16th Annual Conference of the International-Society-of-Development-Biologists. S71-S71
- RUTLAND, C., WARNER, L., THORPE, A., ALIBHAI, A., ROBINSON, T., SHAW, B., LAYFIELD, R., BROOK, J.D. and LOUGHNA, S., 2009. Knockdown of alpha myosin heavy chain disrupts the cytoskeleton and leads to multiple defects during chick cardiogenesis Journal of Anatomy. 214(6), 905-915