Led by Professor David Hildick-Smith, Head of department, and current President of the British Cardiac Interventional Society (BCIS) and Nicola Skipper, Head nurse for Research, Brighton has become a world-renowned centre of excellence for translational research across all cardiac subspecialties, including structural heart disease, coronary intervention, electrophysiology, and heart failure and devices as well as cardiothoracic surgical trials.
Our Research
The unit was set up by Professor Vincent in the 1980s and was involved in a number of early pioneering clinical trials. Since then, the unit has continued to grow, currently with a total of 56 trials on going, 20 in active recruitment, 14 in follow-up and 22 in set-up. We have 13 different PIs running these trials.
Currently we have 4 registrars undertaking research for higher degrees and 6 full time research nurses.
Of note, we are the 4th largest recruiter to the BHF funded Protect study, a large multicentred UK based clinical trial looking at stroke prevention in trans-catheter heart valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis. This trial will dictate whether stroke prevention becomes the standard of care or not for one of the most significant and potentially disabling complications of this procedure
Key Outputs
In patients with coronary artery disease, the department has led the world on treatment of bifurcation disease (narrowings involving the main vessel and side branch). Professor David Hildick-Smith has led on 3 large European based multicentred clinical trials (BBC-1, EBC-2, EBC- main) and the results have now become the guideline directed standard of care for treatment of this common condition, across the world
Current Projects
In electrophysiology we have become a worldwide centre of excellence for treating complex atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. The development of a novel epicardial access method led to award of “paper of the year” by the ‘Together VT’, European VT congress and this
approach is now being used worldwide. We have become a teaching centre of excellence with many people coming from across the globe to learn the technique from our Brighton team. The technique has led to the EPIC-AF trial, a multicentre randomised AF ablation trial which is due to start shortly.
St Richard’s
The following are highlights of recent commercial portfolio activity St Richard’s hospital
FINEARTS – Evaluating the efficacy and safety of finerenone vs placebo in participants with symptomatic heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%. Top recruiters in the UK out of 15 sites, in follow-up phase.
ZEUS – Evaluating effects of ziltivekimab versus placebo on cardiovascular outcomes in participants with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease & inflammation. Top recruiters to date out of 28 sites, first site to reach target.
OCEANIC – Comparing the efficacy and safety of the oral FX1a inhibitor asundexian with apixaban for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in participants with atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. 3rd top recruiters in UK.
Studies in set-up:
PROTECT-HF – Physiological compared to right ventricular pacing Outcome Trial Evaluated for bradycardia treatment.
HERMES – Evaluating effects of ziltivekimab versus placebo on morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction & systemic inflammation.
Worthing
ORION-4 – aims to find out if a new cholesterol lowering injection safely reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people who have already had one of these conditions, or who have had an operation or procedure to unblock their arteries. The Worthing cardiology team has recruited over 200 patients to this international study.
Key Local Contact Details
- For trial enquires at Brighton please contact Professor Hildick-Smith and Nicola Skipper.
- For research opportunities including higher degrees please contact Dr James Cockburn and Dr John Silberbauer.
- Coronary and structural intervention: Professor David Hildick-Smith, Dr James Cockburn
- Electrophysiology: Dr John Silberbauer
- Heart failure and devices: Dr Sue Ellery and Dr Steve Coombs
- For trial enquires at Worthing please contact: Dr Suki Dhamrait, Dr Sujay Chandran, Dr Marian Bencat
- St Richard’s: Dr Yuk-ki Wong, Dr Nick Child, Dr Mark Turner
- Our research nurses, Raquel Gomez-Marcos and Sally Moore.