The PVDU provides an environment for the delivery of innovative research with an emphasis on the integration of basic science into clinical medicine as a vital part of delivering best patient care, progressing the quality and range of patient treatments.
Papers published from the PVDU have raised awareness and improved our understanding of the epidemiology and risk factors for pulmonary hypertension (specifically in PAH/CTEPH). Our research into advanced PH technologies (investigator driven Phase 2 and 3 trials) and biological markers (investigator driven original research), have improved patient outcomes.
The research programme is built on successful grants from Industry and from the Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. The PVDU collaborates closely with British Heart Foundation-funded laboratory of Professor Nick Morrell at the University of Cambridge, on projects related to pulmonary vascular cell and molecular biology and the genetics of PAH and CTEPH.
We have established the first International CTEPH consortium (6 European &1 US centres), to build biobanking and a collaborative network for clinical research. This capitalizes on the unique structure of the UK PH centres network, allowing for the systematic collection of clinical data and collection of blood samples as a biorepository.
As part of a BHF/MRC-funded cohort study, Royal Papworth researchers together with PH centres across the UK have established a world-leading collaboration to understand the genetics, epidemiology and factors influencing clinical outcomes in PAH.
Royal Papworth's PVDU has a very active research programme encompassing 30 clinical trials. We collaborate actively with several other National, European and American pulmonary hypertension units. Our translational research programmes provide the environment to foster young researchers to investigate basic science questions with clinical impact. This provides a unique opportunity for scientific breakthroughs, technological advances and new treatments in the field of pulmonary hypertension with a specific focus on Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension and Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
The PVDU together with Prof Nick Morrell supervises research fellows working towards higher degrees (MPhil, MD, PhD).