Meet our students

Nikolas Dietis
Nikolas Dietis joined us after completing his masters in Pharmacology and Neuroscience. He is studying for a PhD looking at the potential of bifunctional opioids for combating cancer pain. He has presented his findings to both scientific and lay audiences through conferences, postgraduate fairs and the local media, winning prizes in the process. He says: "It is true that when I joined Cardiovascular Sciences back in 2008, I never thought that I could do so many things in three years and be able to engage successfully with so many research and career activities. All these, would have never been possible without the right guidance and the proper support from my supervisors and the department in general, which I honestly thank them for. I therefore believe that, if one has the will and the motivation to go forward, Cardiovascular Sciences offers the challenges and provides the right support for one to be successful." Read more about Nikolas Dietis.

Nikolas Dietis

Nikolas Dietis joined us after completing his masters in Pharmacology and Neuroscience. He is studying for a PhD looking at the potential of bifunctional opioids for combating cancer pain. He has presented his findings to both scientific and lay audiences through conferences, postgraduate fairs and the local media, winning prizes in the process. He says:

"It is true that when I joined Cardiovascular Sciences back in 2008, I never thought that I could do so many things in three years and be able to engage successfully with so many research and career activities. All these, would have never been possible without the right guidance and the proper support from my supervisors and the department in general, which I honestly thank them for.
I therefore believe that, if one has the will and the motivation to go forward, Cardiovascular Sciences offers the challenges and provides the right support for one to be successful."

Will Nicolson
Will Nicolson is a Clinical Research Fellow undertaking an MD researching improvements in risk stratification for Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators. His research has led to a successful patent application and he has gained several prizes and awards. He says: "I have had a fantastic research experience since starting my MD. I have been given the freedom to develop a project that matched my interests and the support necessary to make it a success." "The University of Leicester has been an excellent fit for me. It has offered dynamic and interested support from the beginning; it really is 'elite without being elitist'!" "I am currently looking for funding to create a spin out company - with the support of the university." Read more about Will Nicolson.

Will Nicolson

Will Nicolson is a Clinical Research Fellow undertaking an MD researching improvements in risk stratification for Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators. His research has led to a successful patent application and he has gained several prizes and awards. He says:
"I have had a fantastic research experience since starting my MD. I have been given the freedom to develop a project that matched my interests and the support necessary to make it a success."

"The University of Leicester has been an excellent fit for me. It has offered dynamic and interested support from the beginning; it really is 'elite without being elitist'!"

"I am currently looking for funding to create a spin out company - with the support of the university."

Radoslaw Debiec
There’s no doubt that Radoslaw Debiec, a young doctor from Poland, is passionate about his current research, having had interest in the genetics of complex diseases for several years. He is studying for a PhD on genetic exploration of urotensin signalling pathway in families with hypertension and chronic kidney disease but has taken the opportunity to get involved in many other projects focussing on cardiovascular genetics. These have given him "the opportunity to gain skills in applying for research funding and attend international conferences". He adds that "research in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester gave me not only satisfaction but also recognition of my work – I was awarded Young Investigator Award in Population Sciences at the annual Congress of the European Society of Cardiology 2010”. Such is his impact that he was featured in a "European Perspectives in Cardiology" feature in the journal Circulation.

Radoslaw Debiec

There’s no doubt that Radoslaw Debiec, a young doctor from Poland, is passionate about his current research, having had interest in the genetics of complex diseases for several years. He is studying for a PhD on genetic exploration of urotensin signalling pathway in families with hypertension and chronic kidney disease but has taken the opportunity to get involved in many other projects focussing on cardiovascular genetics. These have given him

"the opportunity to gain skills in applying for research funding and attend international conferences".

He adds that

"research in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester gave me not only satisfaction but also recognition of my work – I was awarded Young Investigator Award in Population Sciences at the annual Congress of the European Society of Cardiology 2010”.

Such is his impact that he was featured in a "European Perspectives in Cardiology" feature in the journal Circulation.

Hanna Blackledge
I am a public health specialist with a background in medicine, clinical research, epidemiology and health care informatics. My main area of interest is addressing health inequalities through effective public health and health care intervention. I graduated in medicine from the Medical University of Warsaw (Poland). After moving to the UK and a period of academic research at the University College London, I worked as an epidemiologist for the NHS in Bedfordshire. I obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Nottingham in 1996. In my public health capacity I developed a strong interest in health inequalities affecting patients with long-term cardiovascular conditions, which led to a number of research projects in collaboration with the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. Examples of this work include studies of outcomes in heart failure and interventional cardiology. I was awarded a PhD by the University of Leicester in 2010, based on my thesis concerned with inequalities in survival of patients with heart failure and was delighted to receive the College Prize for the academic year 2009/10 for my thesis. I have strong ongoing links with the University of Leicester as an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Cardiovascular Sciences. Read more about Hanna's Doctoral Inaugural lecture

Hanna Blackledge

I am a public health specialist with a background in medicine, clinical research, epidemiology and health care informatics. My main area of interest is addressing health inequalities through effective public health and health care intervention.

I graduated in medicine from the Medical University of Warsaw (Poland). After moving to the UK and a period of academic research at the University College London, I worked as an epidemiologist for the NHS in Bedfordshire. I obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Nottingham in 1996. In my public health capacity I developed a strong interest in health inequalities affecting patients with long-term cardiovascular conditions, which led to a number of research projects in collaboration with the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. Examples of this work include studies of outcomes in heart failure and interventional cardiology. I was awarded a PhD by the University of Leicester in 2010, based on my thesis concerned with inequalities in survival of patients with heart failure and was delighted to receive the College Prize for the academic year 2009/10 for my thesis.

I have strong ongoing links with the University of Leicester as an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Cardiovascular Sciences.

Read more about Hanna's Doctoral Inaugural lecture

Mervyn Thomas
Mervyn Thomas clearly feels at home in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. Since coming to Leicester to study medicine he has undertaken several research projects with us, including an intercalated BSc, and is now nearing the end of an intercalated PhD. During this time, his research has ranged from the molecular biology of ion channels through to human genetics and clinical case studies in nystagmus. He has published extensively, presented at both local and international meetings and received multiple prizes and awards. He says: "Overall my experience in research has been one which I will never forget, I have made lots of friends and been inspired by my colleagues and supervisors." Read more about Mervyn Thomas.

Mervyn Thomas

Mervyn Thomas clearly feels at home in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. Since coming to Leicester to study medicine he has undertaken several research projects with us, including an intercalated BSc, and is now nearing the end of an intercalated PhD. During this time, his research has ranged from the molecular biology of ion channels through to human genetics and clinical case studies in nystagmus. He has published extensively, presented at both local and international meetings and received multiple prizes and awards. He says:
"Overall my experience in research has been one which I will never forget, I have made lots of friends and been inspired by my colleagues and supervisors."

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