University Of Leicester Study Into How The 'Body Clock' Impacts Heart Disease

Main Category: Endocrinology
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 26 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PST

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New research at the University of Leicester is examining exactly how our bodies 'tick' - in order to reduce the threat of heart attacks.

The research in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences aims to lessen the devastating impact of heart disease fatalities -accounting for more than a third of the deaths in the UK. In addition to the impact on people's lives, heart disease costs the UK economy £7m year.

Now a study by Danny Chan, a postgraduate researcher, will look at the 'body clock'- the mechanism that controls all biological processes like sleep patterns, arousal, blood pressure and heart rate.

Danny said: "Many disease show fluctuations over 24 hours; more specifically heart diseases such as heart attacks occur more frequently between 6am to 12noon.

"My research involves investigation of a key molecule that stops blood clots from breaking down. Its level in blood has a 24h rhythm, peaking between 6am to 12noon, and so is likely to contribute to increased risk of heart disease during the morning period."

The research examines variations in a key gene associated with increased risk of heart attacks and how this affects the clotting process, in a search to find ways to reduce people's risk of having fatal heart attacks.

Danny said: "This is an exciting and innovative piece of research that has an enormous potential in the future for developing new medical techniques to prevent heart attacks. The University of Leicester has a world-class reputation for its heart research and I feel privileged to be working with some of the top people in the field conducting research of the highest calibre."

The research is being presented to the public at the University of Leicester on June 29. The Festival of Postgraduate Research introduces employers and the public to the next generation of innovators and cutting-edge researchers, and gives postgraduate researchers the opportunity to explain the real world implications of their research to a wide ranging audience.

More information on the Festival of Postgraduate Research

University Of Leicester

A member of the 1994 Group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.

- Ranked joint top for two consecutive years for the quality of teaching and overall satisfaction amongst full-time students at English universities
- Ranked as a Top 20 university by The Times Good University Guide and The Guardian University League Table
- One of just 19 UK universities to feature in world's top 200- Shanghai Jiao Tong International Index, 2005 and 2006.
- Short listed Higher Education Institution of the Year - THES awards 2005 and 2006
- Students' Union of the Year award 2005, short listed 2006

Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has 19,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency- including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA Fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Centre. 90% of staff are actively engaged in high quality research and 13 subject areas have been awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. The University's research grant income places it among the top 20 UK research universities. The University employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of £173m, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300m investment programme- among the biggest of any UK university.

University of Leicester

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