New Challenges in the Management of Heart Failure: Meet the Experts

Juan Carlos Kaski is Professor of Cardiovascular Science at St George’s, University of London (SGUL), Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at St George’s Hospital, NHS Trust, London, UK and Director of the Cardiovascular and Cell Sciences Research Institute at SGUL. Prof Kaski is Doctor of Science, University of London, immediate Past-President of ISCP (International Society of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy) and editorial board member and associate editor of numerous peer review journals. He is also fellow of the ESC (FESC), the ACC (FACC), the AHA (FAHA), the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP), and over 30 other scientific societies worldwide.

Prof Kaski’s research areas include mechanisms of rapid coronary artery disease progression, inflammatory and immunological mechanisms of atherosclerosis, microvascular angina and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. Prof Kaski has published over 400 papers in peer-review journals, over 200 invited papers in cardiology journals and more than 130 book chapters. He has also edited six books on cardiovascular topics.

Professor Kaski’s main areas of research include:

• Microvascular angina and coronary vasospasm
• Inflammation and immunity in cardiovascular disease and acute coronary syndrome
• Biomarkers of cardiovascular risk and rapid coronary artery disease progression
• Pharmacotherapy in stable angina pectoris

Prof Rosano is a consultant cardiologist and honorary professor of cardiology at St George’s University Medical School in London, and scientific director of the Nutramed program at the IRCCS San Raffaele, in Rome, and professor of pharmacology at the University of Catanzaro.

He currently serves as an expert in cardiovascular medicine for the European Assessment Office of the Italian Drug Agency and is a core member of the Cardiovascular Working Party of the European Medicines Agency.

Prof Rosano is a board member of the Heart Failure Association (HFA), and is chairman of the HFA's education committee and the HFA Study Group on Diabetes and Hypertension. He serves as deputy editor-in-chief of Cardiac Failure Review.

Theresa McDonagh is a consultant cardiologist at King's College London. Her research interests are in clinical heart failure, in particular the epidemiology of heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction and the role of biomarkers. Prof McDonagh is currently chair of the Clinical Section of the Heart Failure Association of the ESC and clinical lead for the National Heart Failure Audit.

Debasish Banerjee is a consultant nephrologist with special interest in cardiovascular complications of chronic kidney disease including heart failure, sudden cardiac death and cardiac workup before kidney transplantation in chronic kidney disease patients; glomerulonephritis, kidney stone disease and diabetic nephropathy.

He serves as the Clinical Subdean for St Georges Hospital and Higher Education Academic Director for St Georges, University of London.

His research interest is cardiac and vascular changes in chronic kidney disease with impact of vitamin D and kidney transplantation. He has received several research grants from British Heart Foundation, National Institute of Healthcare Research, British Renal Society, Guys & St. Thomas’ Charity and St. Georges’ Charity.

He is the centre director for the International Society of Nephrology Renal Sister Centre program fostering collaboration in research and education.

Dr Robin Ray graduated from Oxford University and Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ School of Medicine, London. He was received a BHF scholar award and a BHF clinical PhD studentship and completed a PhD at King’s College Hospital, London in endothelial function, blood pressure and heart failure. He trained on the South East London Cardiology rotation and completed a cardiac imaging fellowship at the Brompton Hospital. He was appointed Consultant Cardiologist in January 2015 at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London. He was appointed Head of Education in September 2015.

Presenter
Prof Ajjan is a Professor of Metabolic Medicine and an Honorary Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at Leeds University and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. He obtained his PhD from the University of Sheffield and completed his clinical training in Diabetes and Endocrinology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. He runs a programme of basic, translational and clinical research studies with the collective aim of reducing vascular complications and improving quality of life in individuals with diabetes. His clinical studies have focussed on optimising glycaemic control by reducing high glucose levels while avoiding hypoglycaemia and keeping glucose variability to a minimum. His translational work aims to uncover novel therapeutic targets to reduce the prothrombotic environment in diabetes, a key abnormality in this condition. He has over 150 publications including original articles, reviews and book chapters. His clinical practice concentrates on young adults with diabetes and older individuals at high risk of vascular disease.

He is local R&D lead for Diabetes/Endocrinology and regional clinical research network co-lead for diabetes, endocrine and metabolic conditions. He is deputy Chair of the Clinical Study Group 2 at Diabetes UK, Associate Editor of Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research and member of the editorial board of International Journal of Molecular Sciences.