Coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction are a major global cause of morbidity and mortality. Our research seeks to improve our pathological understanding and to improve patient assessment, care and clinical outcomes using multi-modality state-of-the-art imaging technique. HTML OverviewCAD diagnosisSince 2012, we have been looking to improve the diagnostic accuracy of angina due to coronary artery disease, using the very latest generation of computed tomography (CT) scanners.In 2015, we completed the SCOTHEART trial. It was the first-ever trial to determine whether advanced CT scanning could help diagnose people who present with chest pain. For the first time, we showed that CT scanning:markedly improves clarity of diagnosischanges how people are treatedreduces the risk of subsequent heart attack by ~50%This seminal paper was published in the Lancet in 2015. The work has received widespread media & scientific coverage, also winning a number of prizes.It has changed the NICE guidance on how doctors should investigate patients with suspected angina. Five year follow up study for SCOT-HEART published in NEJM which demonstrated beneficial impact of cardiac CT engiography, within the initial workup for chest pain symptoms.We have also pioneered coronary 18F-fluoride PET-CT imaging which provides and assessment of disease activity to complement the anatomical information provided by CT. The PREFFIR trial will assess whether this imaging modality can improve patient risk stratification and the identification of patients at highest risk of future myocardial infarction.CAD causesWe have described a highly innovative approach using positron emission tomography (PET), to identify fatty deposits or “plaques” in heart arteries & which are “vulnerable” to causing a heart attack.This imaging approach uses a molecular tracer, which specifically binds to areas of inflammation & damage within the “vulnerable” plaque of the coronary artery. This molecular tracer emits a unique anti-matter (“positron”) signal, which can be detected by the specialised PET scanner. We can then localise the “vulnerable” plaque to within 3-4mm sections of the coronary artery. Lead CAD researcher Prof David NewbyTo discuss new research & collaborative imaging projects with Edinburgh Imaging, please contact: Edinburgh Imaging Enquiries: studies / collaborations / facilities Contact details Email: edimg.studyinfo@ed.ac.uk Research staff with a CAD focusProf Edwin van Beek Prof Marc DweckAlison FletcherDr Gillian MacnaughtProf Nicholas MillsProf Scott SempleDr Michelle Williams Current projectsCompleted projects Funding organisations & groupsOrganisations are listed alphabetically:British Heart FoundationChief Scientist’s OfficeMedical Research CouncilWellcome Trust Relevant links11 May 22. BCIS Young Investigator of the Year01 May 22. FAPI Fibrosis study anniversary05 Apr 22. DEMAND-MI Cases02 Mar 22. Dr Anna Barton in Sunday Post03 Nov 21. PiW VIP PET Prize winner12 Oct 21. SCOT-HEART latest findings03 Oct 21. SCS Best Scientific Abstract award18 May 21. JACC Parmley Prize15 May 21. New cardiac imaging educational resource27 Apr 21. Edinburgh Imaging FAPI accomplishment18 Dec 20. BHF Fellowship grant12 Mar 20. SCOT-HEART 212 Feb 19. Winner of 2019 EuroMinnies16 Jan 19. Scientific paper finalist31 Aug 18. SCOT-HEART findings30 Aug 18. ESC Congress Awards08 Jan 18. SINAPSE Image of the Year 201704 May 17. Winners - BMJ award Relevant Edinburgh Imaging publications26 May 22. Featured Paper. Bypass grafting and native coronary artery disease activity15 Apr 22. Featured Paper. Pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation, low-attenuation plaque burden, and 5-year risk of myocardial infarction30 Mar 22. Featured Paper. Coronary artery and cardiac disease in patients with type 2 myocardial infarction: a prospective cohort study17 Aug 21. Featured Paper. Pericoronary & periaortic adipose tissue density are associated with inflammatory disease activity in Takayasu arteritis & atherosclerosis29 Dec 20. Featured Paper. Reproducibility of quantitative plaque measurement in advanced coronary artery disease.14 Dec 20. Featured Paper. Coronary 18F-fluoride uptake & progression of coronary artery calcification.22 Jun 20. Featured Paper. Coronary 18F-sodium fluoride uptake predicts outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.03 Jun 20. Featured Paper. Exercise electrocardiography & computed tomography coronary angiography for patients with suspected stable angina pectoris. A post hoc analysis of the randomized SCOT-HEART trial.16 Mar 20. Featured Paper. Low-attenuation noncalcified plaque on coronary computed tomography angiography predicts myocardial infarction: results from the multicenter SCOT-HEART Trial (Scottish computed tomography of the heart).Please view all our publications, here This article was published on 2024-08-22
HTML OverviewCAD diagnosisSince 2012, we have been looking to improve the diagnostic accuracy of angina due to coronary artery disease, using the very latest generation of computed tomography (CT) scanners.In 2015, we completed the SCOTHEART trial. It was the first-ever trial to determine whether advanced CT scanning could help diagnose people who present with chest pain. For the first time, we showed that CT scanning:markedly improves clarity of diagnosischanges how people are treatedreduces the risk of subsequent heart attack by ~50%This seminal paper was published in the Lancet in 2015. The work has received widespread media & scientific coverage, also winning a number of prizes.It has changed the NICE guidance on how doctors should investigate patients with suspected angina. Five year follow up study for SCOT-HEART published in NEJM which demonstrated beneficial impact of cardiac CT engiography, within the initial workup for chest pain symptoms.We have also pioneered coronary 18F-fluoride PET-CT imaging which provides and assessment of disease activity to complement the anatomical information provided by CT. The PREFFIR trial will assess whether this imaging modality can improve patient risk stratification and the identification of patients at highest risk of future myocardial infarction.CAD causesWe have described a highly innovative approach using positron emission tomography (PET), to identify fatty deposits or “plaques” in heart arteries & which are “vulnerable” to causing a heart attack.This imaging approach uses a molecular tracer, which specifically binds to areas of inflammation & damage within the “vulnerable” plaque of the coronary artery. This molecular tracer emits a unique anti-matter (“positron”) signal, which can be detected by the specialised PET scanner. We can then localise the “vulnerable” plaque to within 3-4mm sections of the coronary artery. Lead CAD researcher Prof David NewbyTo discuss new research & collaborative imaging projects with Edinburgh Imaging, please contact: Edinburgh Imaging Enquiries: studies / collaborations / facilities Contact details Email: edimg.studyinfo@ed.ac.uk Research staff with a CAD focusProf Edwin van Beek Prof Marc DweckAlison FletcherDr Gillian MacnaughtProf Nicholas MillsProf Scott SempleDr Michelle Williams Current projectsCompleted projects Funding organisations & groupsOrganisations are listed alphabetically:British Heart FoundationChief Scientist’s OfficeMedical Research CouncilWellcome Trust Relevant links11 May 22. BCIS Young Investigator of the Year01 May 22. FAPI Fibrosis study anniversary05 Apr 22. DEMAND-MI Cases02 Mar 22. Dr Anna Barton in Sunday Post03 Nov 21. PiW VIP PET Prize winner12 Oct 21. SCOT-HEART latest findings03 Oct 21. SCS Best Scientific Abstract award18 May 21. JACC Parmley Prize15 May 21. New cardiac imaging educational resource27 Apr 21. Edinburgh Imaging FAPI accomplishment18 Dec 20. BHF Fellowship grant12 Mar 20. SCOT-HEART 212 Feb 19. Winner of 2019 EuroMinnies16 Jan 19. Scientific paper finalist31 Aug 18. SCOT-HEART findings30 Aug 18. ESC Congress Awards08 Jan 18. SINAPSE Image of the Year 201704 May 17. Winners - BMJ award Relevant Edinburgh Imaging publications26 May 22. Featured Paper. Bypass grafting and native coronary artery disease activity15 Apr 22. Featured Paper. Pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation, low-attenuation plaque burden, and 5-year risk of myocardial infarction30 Mar 22. Featured Paper. Coronary artery and cardiac disease in patients with type 2 myocardial infarction: a prospective cohort study17 Aug 21. Featured Paper. Pericoronary & periaortic adipose tissue density are associated with inflammatory disease activity in Takayasu arteritis & atherosclerosis29 Dec 20. Featured Paper. Reproducibility of quantitative plaque measurement in advanced coronary artery disease.14 Dec 20. Featured Paper. Coronary 18F-fluoride uptake & progression of coronary artery calcification.22 Jun 20. Featured Paper. Coronary 18F-sodium fluoride uptake predicts outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.03 Jun 20. Featured Paper. Exercise electrocardiography & computed tomography coronary angiography for patients with suspected stable angina pectoris. A post hoc analysis of the randomized SCOT-HEART trial.16 Mar 20. Featured Paper. Low-attenuation noncalcified plaque on coronary computed tomography angiography predicts myocardial infarction: results from the multicenter SCOT-HEART Trial (Scottish computed tomography of the heart).Please view all our publications, here