J Graeme

Biography

Professor Graeme Houston qualified in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University in 1983 before studying Anatomy at King’s College, London. He then went on to study Clinical Medicine at St Thomas’s Hospital London gaining MB Bchir in 1987. His junior hospital posts were in the Western Infirmary in Glasgow, where he developed an interest in the expanding field of Radiology and Image Guided Therapy in the emerging specialty of Interventional Radiology.  Following a fellowship in Vancouver, Canada he was appointed NHS Consultant Radiologist in Dundee in 1995.  He developed the clinical MRI and Interventional Radiology services in Tayside (1995-2015) and, increasingly active in research, he was appointed SINAPSE Professor of Clinical Imaging in the University of Dundee in 2009.  Nationally, he has served on NHS Scotland Advisory Groups (SIGN Guidelines, Imaging Strategy, National Procurement, Scottish Radiological Society), Medical Research Council EME Board and Prioritisation Groups, Royal College of Radiology Scottish Standing Committee and Research Committee, and is a Fellow of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe. He is currently Co-Director of the Clinical Research Imaging Facility, a University of Dundee and NHS Tayside collaboration delivering clinical imaging for both research and NHS service. The facilities comprise 2 MRI scanners (1.5 and 3T), a digital PET CT, Interventional Fluoroscopy and ultrasound in the Clinical Research Centre and Institute for Medical Science and Technology. He runs a wide range of clinical and basic research projects based on clinical imaging with established multi-centred clinical and commercial collaborations as well as active basic science and translational imaging research in engineering, computer science and anatomy. He has supervised 20 MD/PhDs. His basic research is focussed on developing and applying new imaging and image guided therapeutic techniques and medical devices into clinical practice. His major clinical research interests are the improvement of non-invasive methods of assessing patient risk factors for disease, the development of new minimal invasive treatments, and the use of imaging techniques to improve understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. In total he has led or jointly held over £17m in 50 research grants (British Heart Foundation, CSO, MRC, EU, Wellcome Trust). He has published 250 papers, holds over 30 patents comprising 12 patent families, 11 design patents. He is a Founder and Director of an NHS spinout company Vascular Flow Technologies Ltd.

Research Interest

My main research interests are imaging and intervention in Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes, working with colleagues in the University of Dundee, NHS Tayside and more widely through the Tayside Medical Science Centre (TASC). My current research activities are aligned with the main medical school clinical research themes: Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke and Diabetes My major research interests are the improvement of non-invasive methods of assessing patient risk factors for disease, the assessment of presence, site and severity of disease using MRI or CT, and the use of imaging techniques to improve understanding of pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Current work is in vulnerable plaque, haemodynamic analysis and overall atheroma burden using MRI. Heart Disease We have used MRI in the assessment of drug effectiveness in heart failure and hypertension (BHF,CSO, MRC, Chest Heart and Stroke), in particular Left Ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a strong independent CV risk factor. We have used MRI to explore  novel approaches such as reducing oxidative stress (allopurinol) or achieving lower than normal target BPs. In addition we have undertaken a major MRI study, the TASCFORCE Project (Souter Charitable Foundation, Tenovus), which assesses cardiovascular risk in a large population based study (40,000 patients) using 3T MRI. Additional work is researching the effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the heart and major blood vessels (Wellcome Trust) and large arterial stiffness (MRC). Stroke Initially the work led to an improved understanding of how stroke affects the muscles of respiration. Recent work has assessed the use of CT Angiography compared to Doppler Ultrasound in the assessment of risk of further stroke and correlation of carotid arterial plaque with MRI and Trans-cranial Doppler in patients with Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TMRI). Future work will examine the link between stroke and cardiac disease (BHF) using MRI. Renal Disease This work has improved the understanding of MRI blood flow patterns, perfusion, assessment of renal damage and the link to tests of renal function (CSO funded). Current funded work examines the link between kidney disease and cardiac function (BHF), and a large collaborative EU research examining haemodynamics  in renal vascular access (ReDVA , www.redva.eu)  to improve the outcome for patients with kidnay failure. Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Recent work has focused on blood flow haemodynamics in atheromatous disease and treatments of PVD using arterial 3-d geometries and haemodynamic wall stress predictions using computerised fluid dynamics (SE, DTI). Current work is looking at imaging and biomarker predictors of PVD progression. Whole Body Atheroma Burden A programme of grant funded research is underway (TMRC, IMI EU,CSO, MRS) to evaluate biomarkers and MR imaging markers for whole body atheroma burden assessment as a means of determining those patients at most risk for rapid disease progression, optimising patients treatments using imaging to stratify patients to appropriate interventions. This work focuses on advanced  MR image acquisition and analysis techniques with collaborations internally with computing and externally with Guerbet and Toshiba Medical Visualization Europe Ltd. Endovascular Therapy Techniques We have developed the applications of blood haemodynamics to cardiovascular disease, particularly in relation to long term effectiveness of vascular graft, stent grafts, and stents (CSO, Edwards Lifesciences, Cordis, Vascular Flow Technologies). Interventional Radiology Technique Development We have a particular interest in the development of interventional radiological techniques, having worked on vascular embolisation, tumour ablation, and  gene therapy delivery techniques (EU, Tenovus), working closely with the  Institute of Medical Science and Technology (IMSAT), acting as advisor and PhD supervisor on cardiovascular implants and imaging and seeking to replace animal testing in this field with cadaveric models (Hadwen Trust). Community/Public Health in Cardiovascular Disease This work is aimed at improving patients understanding of clinical investigations and disease. This collaborative work with the School of Arts, Media and Imaging at Duncan University uses state of the art computer, graphics and display facilities. Displayed at the British Institute of Radiology, this work allows wide collaborative research potential in the Medical School, Dental School, the School of Life Sciences and Mathematics, with projects predominantly in cardiovascular disease (MRC, Sangster Foundation, AHRB, NESTA), stroke and diabetes. These techniques enhance patients understanding of clinical imaging, disease processes, assist in medical student and postgraduate training, and assist treatment planning and responses to therapy. By working closely with Community Health Partnerships and general practitioners, this has the potential to significantly improve the patient’s experience of “the patient journey” and their disease.