Cardiovascular genetics research in Leicester

We are one of the leading centres internationally pursuing genetics and genomics research in cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery disease and hypertension. We have established major clinical resources for such studies including the BHF Family Heart Study (over 4000 subjects), the GRAPHIC Study (over 2000 subjects) and the BRIGHT Study (over 4000 subjects).
There are strong collaborations both internally with other Groups in the Department and other Departments in the University, particularly the Department of Genetics (Professor A Jeffreys, Professor A Brook) and the Department of Health Sciences (Professor P Burton, Professor J Thompson, Dr M Tobin, Dr N Sheehan), Department of Biochemistry (Professor I Eperon) and the MRC Toxicology Unit (Dr T Gant). An overarching Institute of Genetics provides a framework for internal discussions, collaborations and a high quality seminar programme.
There are also extensive collaborations both nationally and internationally including the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, the Bloodomics project, the Cardiogenics project, and the ENGAGE project. The human genetic work is complemented by laboratory research and research in model systems under the Wellcome Trust Functional Genomics Cardiovascular Initiative.
There are excellent research facilities in-house for genetics research (including an AB13130XL genotyper/sequencer and ABI7900 Taqman and Rotorgene real-time PCR machines). The University also has a centralised genomic facility which has recently had £1.5 million investment including Affymetrix and Illumina genome-wide array platforms and a Roche Next Generation Sequencer. The University has a highly successful transgenic unit and is also developing a new £13.5 million biomedical facility which will enable high quality investigations in model systems.

Cardiovascular genetics is one of the major themes that will be pursued in the recently awarded National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease, providing huge opportunities for access to clinical samples and data.