Professor Tim Palmer is pioneering the identification of new targeted drug therapies for the better management of cardiovascular disease, working alongside clinical colleagues in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Haematology, and Diabetes.
Localised inflammation of branch points within large blood vessels is a pivotal event in the development of atherosclerotic plaque responsible for heart attack and stroke. Inflammation is driven by long-term exposure to chemical signals termed "cytokines" which trigger multiple pathways that ultimately lead to the defective vascular cell function responsible for Cardiovascular Disease.
These processes are also responsible for the failure of bypass and stenting procedures used for acute treatment of patients who have suffered a heart attack.
Through his work, he is addressing a major health concern locally and globally.