Research Department of Preclinical and Fundamental Science 

Combining cutting-edge research with world-class teaching to advance our understanding of the heart.

Innovating cardiovascular health

The core goal of the Research Department for Pre-clinical and Fundamental Science is to understand fundamental biological processes that control the development and functions of the vasculature and the heart and to translate this knowledge into treatments for human cardiovascular diseases.

Key programmes of research include: annotation of genes relevant to human cardiovascular disease; transcription factors controlling oncogenesis and heart development and their role in diseases such as hypertension and diabetes; the development of genetically modified biological heart valves for improved durability; strategies for protection against ischaemia and reperfusion injury in the heart; development of novel therapeutic approaches for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Our research department is engaged in many teaching activities, including running an IBSc programme in Cardiovascular Science and a popular Heart & Circulation BSc/MSc course as well as supporting the MSc in Cardiovascular Science and UCL PhD programmes funded by the British Heart Foundation and the MRC. 

Head of Department: Professor Lucie Clapp

PA to Head of Department: Sonam Shah

Research Centres and Groups

  

Collaborative Work