Precision Medicine for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics to Improve Outcomes after Ischaemic Stroke
Supervisors:
Dr Alan Cameron, School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Dr Rona Strawbridge, School of Health & Wellbeing
Dr Robert Heggie, School of Health & Wellbeing
Summary:
Background
Ischaemic stroke causes disability and mortality. Common causes of ischaemic stroke include atrial fibrillation (AF), small vessel disease (SVD) and large artery disease (LAD). Risk of other vascular events is high after ischaemic stroke.
New approaches to prevent vascular events after stroke include prolonged cardiac monitoring to detect AF; drugs to stabilise endothelial function in SVD; and anti-inflammatory or lipid-lowering drugs for LAD. Precision medicine with biomarkers and genetics could identify people who will benefit from these approaches.
Aims
The project will explore associations between cardiovascular/neurological biomarkers, genetics and genomics with stroke subtypes and recurrent vascular events. The findings will highlight precision medicine approaches to stroke secondary prevention using advanced diagnostics and therapeutics that should be further evaluated in clinical trials.
Methods
Existing data from a cohort of 675 people after stroke will be used, alongside UK Biobank, Generation Scotland and genome-wide association studies. External validation is in a separate cohort of people after stroke. Healthcare economic impacts will be assessed.
The student will be trained in biomarkers, genetics, genomics and statistical methods in a data science framework. They are expected to have a BSc or MSc in a relevant field. Experience in data science and/or statistics is beneficial.