Cardiovascular research themes

Exercise and the failing heart

Heart failure is a complex syndrome with impairment of cardiac, respiratory, musculoskeletal and vascular function, all of which contribute to reduced quality of life and mortality. Exercise has established benefits in patients with heart failure but debate continues as to the most appropriate exercise modality.

Our research investigates how the multiple organ and system impairments characteristic of heart failure integrate to cause fatigue and exercise intolerance, and limit quality of life and ultimately survival. We explore the mechanisms by which exercise exerts its benefits and the optimal training regimes that achieve these effects. Our approaches range from the measurement of gene expression to in vivo organ structure and function, complemented by in silico modelling.

View a list of academics within Exercise and the Failing Heart

View a list of postdoctoral researchers within Exercise and the Failing Heart

Key researchers in the area

Name	Area of expertise
Dr Al Benson Lecturer in Cardiovascular Science	Computational modelling; cardiopulmonary exercise testing; near infrared spectroscopy
Dr T. Scott Bowen Lecturer in Exercise Physiology	Exercise training; heart failure; muscle wasting; experimental models; pulmonary gas exchange
Dr Sarah Calaghan Associate Professor in Cardiac Physiology	Rodent exercise analysis; muscle function; calcium signalling; compartmentalised signalling; caveolae; protein chemistry; post translational modification; light and electron microscopy
Professor John Coyler Professor of Biotechnology	Protein engineering; biomarker research; phospho-specific antibodies; quantitative biomarker technologies; medical diagnostics; cardiac cell biology; acute kidney injury
Dr Carrie Ferguson Lecturer in Physiology	Mechanisms of exercise intolerance, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and interpretation, rehabilitation strategies
Dr Izzy Jayasinghe Lecturer in Cardiovascular Science	Development of 3D confocal and super-resolution microscopy tools to study the remodelling following exercise-induced skeletal myofibre damage
Dr Matthew Lancaster Lecturer in Exercise Physiology	Factors predisposing to heart failure in old age; interaction of ageing and heart failure predisposing to arrhythmias
Dr Andrew Smith Lecturer in Cardiovascular Science	Cardiovascular stem and progenitor cells; cell differentiation and function; gene and protein analyses
Dr Bryan Taylor University Academic Fellow in Cardiovascular Exercise Medicine	Cardiopulmonary physiology; pulmonary hypertension; pulmonary gas exchange; pulmonary mechanics; respiratory muscle weakness and fatigue; exercise intolerance
Professor Ed White Professor of Cardiac Physiology	Investigation of the changes in cardiac structure, mechanical and electrical activity in response to heart failure and the beneficial effects of exercise on these factors
Dr Klaus Witte Lecturer in Cardiovascular Science	Cardiology; heart failure; clinical trials; patient access