New research funding will investigate the early stages of heart disease associated with chronic kidney disease led by the University of Birmingham.
Dr Davor Pavlovic will lead an international research team after receiving almost £300,000 from the British Heart Foundation to understand the mechanisms driving the early stages of CKD-associated cardiomyopathy.
The research approach will allow detailed investigation of cellular and electrophysiological changes before irreversible damage to the heart occurs. Researchers will also test whether in the setting of CKD, early treatment can reverse or prevent heart disease.
The research will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of scientists and clinicians, including Professor Jonathan Townend, Professor Charles Ferro, Dr Rowan Hardy, Professor Katja Gehmlich, Dr Sophie Broadway-Stringer and Dr Davor Pavlovic, from the University of Birmingham, alongside Dr Nathan Tucker from SUNY Upstate Medical University and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
Dr Davor Pavlovic, Associate Professor in Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham said:
“Our aim is to uncover the mechanisms driving early cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmia in CKD, providing critical insights into preventative therapies. Reversing established damage is incredibly challenging, so identifying interventions that work in the earliest stages of disease is key to improving outcomes for CKD patients.”
The findings from this study have the potential to transform clinical approaches to CKD-related cardiovascular disease by highlighting the importance of early intervention to prevent life-threatening cardiac events.
CKD affects approximately 10–15% of the global population and significantly increases the risk of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. These risks escalate as kidney function declines, often leading to profound cardiac changes such as fibrosis, structural remodelling, and arrhythmias.
The British Heart Foundation is biggest independent funder of heart and circulatory research in the UK, funding ground breaking research that can save and improve lives. This award underscores University of Birmingham’s leading role in this critical area of investigation.