The Vascular Research Group was established 15 years ago in collaboration with Hull Royal Infirmary and investigates all aspects of vascular disease and associated therapies.
The group has a proven track record of attracting multimillion pound grant funding, high impact factor peer reviewed publications, successful supervision of PhD, MD, MSc, BSc and PGCert students, support of the development of successful independent early career researchers.
Research
Vascular Priority Setting Partnership (PSP)
It is important for research funders to understand what is important to patients, carers and vascular health professionals so they can focus their research on areas that will make the biggest difference.
The PSP will also help to increase awareness of why research into vascular conditions is necessary and important. It will be used to campaign for major funders to invest in vascular conditions, as there will have been an independent process to identify what research is necessary and relevant.
The project is being independently overseen by The James Lind Alliance, a non-profit making initiative. They specialise in bringing patients, carers and health professionals together to identify and prioritise uncertainties, or 'unanswered questions' that they agree are most important.
Find out more
Our current research interests include:
Surgical Wounds Healing by Secondary Intention
Surgical Wounds Healing by Secondary Intention funded by a £2 million NIHR Programme Grant the AVSU in collaboration with colleagues from York and Leeds are investigating the aetiology, impact and management of these wounds.
Lower limb peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
The group has a 15 year history in this field. In particular, the impact of PVD on sufferer’s quality of life, physical function, balance and the clinical and cost effectiveness of intervention. More recently the focus has shifted to analyse the mechanism by which supervised exercise programmes improve outcome in patients with claudication.
Lower limb venous disease
There has been a revolution in the management of varicose veins over the last decade with minimally invasive therapies (Endovenous thermal and chemical ablation). The group was at the forefront of this development with the publication of several seminal papers cumulating in a recent NEJM publication (Brittenden J et al 2014).
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) disease
Using finite element analysis of CT scans this programme of research has analysed the impact of peak wall stress on AAA expansion, rupture and AAA wall MMPs and TIMPS. More recently investigating the clinical and cost effectiveness of supervised exercise prior to AAA repair. We have also been co-investigators in the NIHR HTA funded studies analysing the effect of ACE inhibitors of the growth rate of small AAA and comparing endovascular and open repair of ruptured AAA.
Members
The group has become the hub of a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding and managing all aspects of arterial and venous disease. Staff include 7 consultant vascular surgeons; 6 consultant interventional radiologists; 4 Specialist Registrars (2 ACLs); 1 core surgical trainee; 4 FY1 (1 AF post); 3 vascular technicians / sonographers; 5 specialist / research nurses; 7 research fellows; 2 data entry clerks; and a Research Manager.
Head of Group
- Professor Ian Chetter
Chair of Surgery/HOD and Associate Dean for Research, Hull York Medical School
Chair Education Committee, Vascular Society GB&I
Associate Clinical Director R&D, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal College of Surgeons Surgical Specialty Lead, Vascular Surgery Research
Academic and research staff
Professional support staff
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Claire Acey - PA to Professor Ian Chetter/ Academic Vascular Surgical Unit Administrator
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Lynne Andrews - Data Co-ordinator/Clinical Trials Assistant
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Anna Firth - Vascular Research Nurse
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Caroline Jennison - Data Co-ordinator/Clinical Trials Assistant
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Judith Long - Clinical Trials Manager
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Josie Hatfield - Vascular Research Nurse
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Tracey Roe - Vascular Research Nurse
Postgraduate research students
Facilities
Our facilities include fully equipped vascular laboratory (4 ultrasound scanners, plethysmography equipment; treadmills; cardiopulmonary exercise testing, flow mediated vasodilatation, arterial stiffness and pulse wave velocity assessment); access to CT, MRa, combined procedures and interventional radiology suites.
Collaborations
The group collaborates with some of the strongest departments within the University of Hull including: Clinical Biosciences Institute; Centre for Medical Engineering and Technology; Biological Sciences; and Sport, Health and Exercise Science. It has close links with the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, clinical departments in the NHS and to industry.