People

Tumour Angiogenesis, Radiotracer Development, In vitro testing, Method Development

I am a clinical cardiothoracic radiologist with experience in lung, cardiovascular and oncologic imaging. I am interested in multidisciplinary research approaches with the application of novel imaging techniques and advanced quantitative software tools to provide better analysis of disease states and wish to develop imaging as a biomarker. In addition to the relatively traditional single organ system approach, I am interested in the interactions of these systems within the larger groups of diseases, including COPD, asthma, atherosclerosis and cancer. Towards this end, I intend to develop programs that will appeal to multiple specialities that may not currently be working together within a single group of researchers. Apart from these ideas and interests, I am trained in Clinical Epidemiology and am interested in developing Evidence Based Radiology into clinical practice and build this within the registrar training scheme. It is my firm belief that this will aid in developing an academic career pathway within Radiology. My current role is that of director of the clinical research imaging centre, which houses 3T MRI, 128 PET-CT and 320 detector row CT. This is supported by a GE cyclotron with a fully functional MHRA inspected GMP radiochemistry facility as well as a research laboratory, allowing clinical/research production as well as development of novel radiotracers. An integrated advanced image analysis laboratory completes the centre.

Oncology imaging, including imaging of paediatric neuroendocrine tumours

Radiotherapy using unsealed sources of radiation

SPECT technology and image reconstruction

MR technology

Electrophysiology equipment

Visual development in preterm, newborn and infants

Objective assessment of visual acuity

Signal detection

Modelling visual impairment

My scientific interest involves Molecular Imaging applied to oncology field. In particular, I support the use of PET imaging in order to evaluate and assess a tumour's stage and metabolism, and set up a proper therapeutic strategy.

MSci with work placement in Neuroscience at the University of Glasgow

Cancer research and development, drug discovery of antitumoral agents, targeted therapies, molecular imaging as innovative tool of diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours, medicinal chemistry of PARP inhibitors, radiochemistry, pre-clinical studies.

My major interest is the immune response in cardiovascular diseases. Current research activities address the study and imaging of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, neointimal formation and hypertension.

Immune responses play a key role in cardiovascular diseases. We have developed techniques to track antigen presenting cells and antigen presentation in the development of vascular immune response (ATVB 2012; Circulation 2014). We have been amongst the first to apply multiphoton microscopy in experimental atherosclerosis (Circulation 2007) and stroke (Stroke 2011) with the aim to define the kinetics and anatomical location of the T cell-antigen presenting cell interactions which underlie vascular immune response in real-time in vivo (Immunity 2015). We are currently developing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for multiplexing molecular imaging of vascular inflammation (Heart 2018). The overall hypothesis is that atherosclerosis is a vascular and not a systemic immune disease. As such, the ultimate goal is to develop new modalities for imaging vascular inflammation and deliver immuno-modulatory treatments directly to the vessel wall.

Involved in basic and clinical research in the study of the host response to cancer.