Sophie Payne

My research focuses on the regulatory pathways involved in coronary vessel formation, particularly in the damaged heart. The survival of ischemic tissue after a heart attack depends on the formation of new blood vessels, yet normal revascularization is inefficient in damaged mammalian hearts. Attempts to therapeutically improve vessel growth have therefore been hampered by our limited understanding of the pathways that regulate coronary vascular growth in healthy hearts, and the challenges in studying these processes in ischemic hearts.

My recent research has identified three independent pathways that regulate coronary vessel development. I am now investigating their involvement in revascularization after disease, and looking to develop mechanisms to reactivate them if needed.

I am currently funded by a British Heart Foundation 3-year project grant.