Heather Group

01865 282048
lisa.heather@dpag.ox.ac.uk

Abnormal metabolism in type 2 diabetes, and how this affects the heart

The study of metabolism has a strong historical basis in Oxford, and in the last 20 years research in this field has undergone a renaissance. Abnormalities in cardiac metabolism have been identified in many pathologies, and have been shown to directly impair the function of the heart, accelerate disease progression and to predict mortality. Given the pivotal role of metabolism in keeping the heart contracting, a greater understanding of what metabolism can do, how this is modified in disease and whether this information can be used to develop new treatments may lead to new therapies for the heart.

Type 2 diabetes is a systemic disease of abnormal metabolism, yet the primary cause of mortality in type 2 diabetes is cardiovascular disease. Important questions remain as to what abnormal cardiac metabolism is doing to the heart in diabetes, and how it is having its effect. We are studying metabolism from 2 angles in diabetes: as a source of energy to power the heart, but also as signalling molecules that can regulate transcription, post-translational modification, and enzyme activity. Our aim is to understand how abnormal metabolism and metabolite levels are exerting their effect on the heart in diabetes. We are particularly interested in the roles played by fats and lipids within the heart, and how these may be driving the metabolic and contractile dysfunction in diabetes. Given the increasing prevalence of diabetes and metabolic syndrome in society, a greater understanding of how diabetes specifically affects the heart, and whether this can be rectified by therapy are important questions.

Our research can be divided into four key questions:

1. How is cardiac metabolism modified in type 2 diabetes?

2. What is this abnormal metabolism doing to the heart – are metabolites acting as signalling molecules?

3. What are the mechanisms regulating changes in cardiac metabolism?

4. Can these mechanisms be targeted by new pharmacological therapies to treat the heart?

Our team

Lisa Heather

BHF Intermediate Fellow and Associate Professor
Claudia Montes Aparicio

Research Assistant
Ryan Carter

DPhil Student
Marcos Castro Guarda

DPhil Student
Kaitlyn Dennis

DPhil Student
Ríona Devereux

DPhil Student
Nikola Srnic

MD / DPhil Student
Thomas Nicol

Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Our Research

Anaemia drugs could also aid recovery after heart attack, says study

New drug gives hope to diabetic heart patients

Drug could help people with diabetes recover after heart attack, study suggests

New discovery could help diabetics avoid lasting heart attack damage

Join the Heather Group

_{DPhil Students}

Do you love metabolism too? We are keen to recruit talented DPhil students to join our group. Please send us an email if you are interested in exploring opportunities with the Heather group.

_{Postdoctoral Scientists}

We welcome applications from talented potential postdoctoral researchers. Vacancies are advertised on the Oxford University and DPAG Vacancies web pages, or we encourage potential applicants to secure fellowship funding.

Our Achievements

Congratulations to DPAG Award winners at the Medical Sciences Teaching Excellence 2023 Awards Ceremony!

2 November 2023

Four of DPAG’s academic community were Award winners at the Teaching excellence awards.

BHF Fellowship extension for Lisa Heather to further our understanding of metabolic dysfunction in diabetes

16 June 2023

Congratulations are in order for Associate Professor Lisa Heather, who has been awarded an extension of her British Heart Foundation Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellowship. The extension recognises her successful research on the impact of abnormal metabolism in diabetes on the heart and will prepare her for progression to a Senior Fellowship.

Marcos Castro Guarda is an IMPRES 2022 prize winner

9 December 2022

Congratulations are in order for DPhil student Marcos Castro Guarda, who has been awarded best oral presenter at the 1st International Symposium of Pharmacy Research.

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