Our research programme is focussed on the early detection of thromboembolic events in acute illnesses as they present in the Emergency Department or acutely on the ward. The Unit operates a hub and a spoke research network, the hub being the central laboratory and facilities, allowing a spoke network where highly trained staff can be mobilised quickly to recruit patients throughout the hospital (ITU, coronary care, wards) as well as outpatient follow-up.
The research programme is heavily focused on the most common thromboembolic diseases such as stroke, heart disease, cancer, sepsis, and VTE’s which present to the Emergency Department. The Unit is actively developing new biomarkers for improving the diagnosis and assessing the therapeutic efficacy of both conventional and new therapies. The Unit has been very successful in recruiting patients to studies, with approximately 2000 patients recruited to date to various studies.
Current studies include:
- The characterisation of clotting characteristics in atrial fibrillation patients presenting with stroke and their response to anticoagulant treatment.
- Fractal dimension (Df) as a biomarker of thrombogenicity in cancer associated thrombosis.
- The effects of exercise on fractal dimension in patients with atrial fibrillation who are anticoagulant naïve and the effect of anticoagulation upon this response before and after restoration of sinus rhythm.
- Determining the effect of blood flow and shear rate on the coagulation profile in healthy individuals undergoing a graded exercise programme (a preclude to the assessment of exercise rehabilitation programmes following myocardial infarction).
- Fractal dimension as a biomarker of thrombogenicity in acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD).
- A prospective observational study to compare haemostasis and blood clot microstructure in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and normal, healthy controls.
