Professor Andrew Baker
BHF Professor of Translational Cardiovascular Sciences
University of Glasgow
People with
coronary heart disease often need heart bypass surgery to stop the
pain it can cause in the chest, called angina. The procedure helps
tens of thousands of patients every year, but the benefit doesn’t
always last.
Professor Baker is the new BHF
Professor of Translational Cardiovascular Sciences at the
University of Glasgow. He’ll lead a team of scientists aiming to
‘translate’ discoveries made in the laboratory into new treatments
for heart patients, including those who suffer from angina.
BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre
Over the past decade, through research at our
Cardiovascular Research Centre at the University of Glasgow,
Professor Baker has built up a vast knowledge of how to use
genes to treat diseases. This is known
as gene therapy. Now he is embarking on the first ever gene therapy trial for heart bypass
patients.
The therapy uses DNA to change the behaviour
of cells in the vein grafts used in heart
bypass surgery. Surgeons use pieces of vein from patients to
re-route blood round a blocked artery –
but over time, the grafts often become blocked. Around half of
patients have this problem within ten years of surgery, which means
their angina may return.
Professor Baker has already
shown that his gene therapy approach can stop vein grafts from
blocking in animal models. The next step is to see if it really
works in human patients. If the new trial is successful, the
therapy could offer hope to thousands of patients every year.
If the new trial is successful, the therapy could offer hope to thousands of patients every year
Vital new
discoveries
It’s not only this therapy that offers hope.
With our £1.1 million award, Professor Baker’s
team also aims to develop other new therapies that use stem cells
to regrow lost or damaged blood vessels. Developing this type of
‘regenerative’ treatment is the aim of our Mending Broken Hearts Appeal.
That’s not all. Professor Baker is also
investigating the potential of tiny pieces of genetic material,
called micro RNAs, in preventing complications after heart surgery.
This work could lead to new treatments in the future, too.
Further information
We recently announced
more support for Professor Baker’s new trial – we gave almost
£800,000 in extra funding to get it started, thanks to the
donations of our supporters.
Read more about other ways we’re trying to
help heart bypass patients in Bristol
and at Imperial College London.