60 Seconds with ... Prof Derek Yellon, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
60 seconds with… Professor Derek Yellon, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
Tell us about your recent study?
A study published this year in the New England Journal of Medicine called ERICCA. Although it was neutral in terms of clinical outcome it was a study which was undertaken based upon well-established pre-clinical data from ourselves and others. It clearly demonstrated the vast divide between basic and clinical research and how both sides need to reconcile their huge differences in methodological approach.
What made you want to become a researcher?
I always had a fascination for human biology and even at a very young age new that this was the direction I wanted to take.
Was there anyone who particularly inspired you to do research?
Many people have inspired me but there are two individuals that could be considered as having a real influence: my PhD supervisor Dr Brian Woodward, a pharmacologist whose knowledge as well as his technical expertise were amazing. Having him as a supervisor was pure luck as the student that he had assigned to the cardiovascular project decided at the last minute to undertake a PhD in neuropharmacology; this left the door open for me to enter the cardiovascular pharmacology field to which I am extremely grateful. The other person was my close friend Dr Jim Downey from the University of South Alabama who I teamed up with as a postdoctoral fellow to undertake studies in cardioprotection, I have remained in this area ever since. He is a giant in this area and again his knowledge of physiology is remarkable. Every time I talk with him I learn something new!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I would have to say this is three fold. Firstly, if we are taking about academic achievement, the highlights of my career are the two DSc degrees that I obtained; one from the University of Bath, where I undertook my PhD, and the second DSc (DSc Honorus Causa) I was awarded from the University of Cape Town, both for the advancement of science in the area of cardiovascular disease and treatment.
Secondly, if we are talking about research achievements, then the basic research undertaken in defining what has become known as the Reperfusion Injury Salvage Kinase (RISK) pathway which is now used universally to describe the prosurvival pathway that exists in the heart; and from a clinical standpoint, the first study in the world to demonstrate the cardioprotective phenomenon of “preconditioning” in patients.
Finally, to the establishment of the Hatter Cardiovascular Institute (HCI) in the early 1990s, in the basement of the old hospital (where I was told by my then senior colleagues that I had no chance of achieving any success) to our stand alone premises in Chenies Mews. The HCI has become an internationally recognised centre for translational cardiovascular research of which I am immensely proud!
What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
The support of my family!
Upcoming Events
Hatter Lecture Series - Prof. Jim Downey - Thursday 22nd March 2018 @ 12.30 “Caspase-1 an assassin of reperfused myocardium”
10 Years at Chenies Mews
The Hatter Institute celebrates 10 years at Chenies Mews
The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute (HCI) at UCL is actually 26 years old but this year it is celebrating 10 years in its newish building at Chenies Mews. This building was opened by Tony Blair a decade ago and the HCI has continued to work tirelessly on fundamental cardiovascular health problems including the world’s biggest killer ischaemic heart disease.
The institute specialises in a bench-to-bedside approach, which incorporates molecular pathophysiology aspects of various cardiovascular conditions and culminates in new treatment regimens.
The institute is led by Derek Yellon and its researchers were the first to show that the cardioprotective effect of preconditioning could occur in humans. Hundreds of papers originating from the HCI have been published in journals such as the New Engl J Med, The Lancet and Circulation.
Says Yellon:
" We are particularly proud of our collaborations with other high quality institutions such as our collaboration with the University of Cape Town and our jointly run educational At the Limits series of lectures.
This lecture series is supported by The Lancet and has The Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School as a partner. The HCI is funded by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council and the British Heart Foundation.
For further information, please contact: d.yellon@ucl.ac.uk