Professor Jill Belch

Jill Belch is Professor of Vascular Medicine and has significant expertise in vascular endothelial, & coagulation defects being first to report oxidative stress and impaired endothelial function in many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) There are currently 26 staff within the Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases Unit, which is part of the Institute of Cardiovascular Research. Its focus on inflammation and thrombosis is well recognised (Dr Gwen Kennedy & Dr Sandy Hill). Further with its state of-the-art vascular imaging, this laboratory is arguably one of the best-equipped vascular laboratories in the UK. The development of large vessel endothelial function testing, developed collaboratively with Cardiac Medicine, adds a further strength to the research theme. The microvascular imaging work is further enhanced by strong collaborative links with macrovascular imaging within the NHS Vascular Laboratory, and in Radiology. This latter link (with Graeme Houston) provides access to state of the art MRI and CT measures of blood flow, perfusion, arterial stenoses in relation to peripheral arterial disease, Stroke and Renal artery disease. It has led directly to the collaborative bid mentioned above, which successfully achieved circa £2M in funding to purchase a new research dedicated MRI and run a major population based CV screening trial.

There are 4 inter-related study areas within this core Unit: 1. surrogate markers for vascular risk (biomarkers) within a normal population; 2. peripheral arterial disease (PAD, including both macro- and microvascular disorders such as Raynauds and Systemic sclerosis); 3. inflammation in vascular disorders; and 4. vice versa ie vascular disease in the rheumatic disorders.

Within the normal population the Unit have detected vascular risk in 20% of normal children (MRC) and a study of 20,000 volunteers (Scottish Heart and Arterial Risk Prevention, SHARP) has documented CV risk in a cross section of the Scottish workforce through a 10 year follow up, giving data for novel MAFF/FSA dietary studies. Childhood diabetes causes vasculopathy which has been documented by this group (MRC) and others and is attenuated by antioxidants (SHERT). In PAD they were first to link adhesion molecules & re-stenosis (CHS/CSO), facilitating a 6 year CV endpoint study of 1,300 diabetics with asymptomatic PAD (POPADAD, MRC). Oxidative stress causes atherosclerosis in inflammatory diseases (CSO/arc/MRC), and heart disease is the main cause of death in the rheumatic diseases.

As a result of this laboratory work documenting atherosclerosis in these diseases, funds have been awarded for two further 5 year mortality studies in both SSc & RA (BHF, arc, £0.65M and 0.75M, not yet added to database in appendix 3), and a third (collaborating with Cardiac Medicine) within the population of Tayside (TASCFORCE, Souter Foundation, £2M) detecting and treating MRI cardiac abnormalities by screening circa 15,000.

She has generated a grant income circa £12M since over the period of the last RAE assessment, has over 300 publications in scientific journals and supervised/mentored 27 MD/PhD/MSc students.

Nationally she is Chairman of Scottish Heart and Arterial Risk Prevention (SHARP), has contributed to 4 Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guidelines. She is/has been Chairman of 16 International and National multicentre Trials, and has given over 300 invited lectures both at home and abroad. She has sat/sits on a number of MRC Grant committees inc Physiological Medicines and Infections Board and the Clinical Fellowships Awards Committee. She is Co-Chair of TARGET PAD: National Peripheral Arterial Disease Primary Care Lobbying Group. She is on the International Union of Angiology (IUA) Executive Board, and IUA European Vice-President.

1. Belch, JJF, and The POPADAD Study Group. The Prevention of Progression of Arterial Disease and Diabetes (POPADAD): A randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2008; 337: a1840 doi:10.1136/bmj.a1840

2. Belch JJF, McSwiggan S, Lau C. Macrovascular disease in systemic sclerosis: the tip of an iceberg? Rheumatol 2008; 47: 16-17

3. Khan F, George J, Wong K, McSwiggan S, Struthers AD, Belch JJF. The association between serum urate levels and arterial stiffness/endothelial function in stroke survivors. Atherosclerosis 200 2008; 374-379

4. Khan F, George J, Wong K, McSwiggan S, Struthers AD, Belch JJF. Allopurinol Treatment Reduces Arterial Wave Reflection in Stroke Survivors. Cardiovascular Therapeutics 26 2008; 247-252

5. Galarraga B, Ho M, Youssef HM, Hill A, McMahon H, Hall C, Ogston S, Nuki G, Belch JJF. Cod liver oil (N-3 fatty acids) as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug sparing agent in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology 2008; 1-5

6. Khan F, Kerr H, Ross RA, Newton DJ, Belch JJF. Effects of poor glucose handling on arterial stiffness and left ventricular mass in normal children. International Angiology 2006; 25(3): 268-273

7. Newton DJ, Khan F, McLaren M, Kennedy G, Belch JJF. Endothelin-1 levels predict 3-year survival in patients who have amputation for critical leg ischaemia. British Journal of Surgery 2005; 92: 1377-1381

8. Khan F, Belch JJF MacLeod M, Mires G. Changes in endothelial function precede the clinical disease in women in whom pre-eclampsia develops. Hypertension 2005; 46: 1123-1128

9. Kennedy G, Spence VA, McLaren M., Hill A., Underwood C, Belch JJF. Oxidative stress levels are raised in chronic fatigue syndrome and are associated with clinical symptoms. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2005; 39: 584-589

10. Khan F, Pearson RJ, Newton DJ, Belch JJF, Butler AR. Chemical synthesis and microvascular effects of new nitric oxide donors in humans. Clinical Science 2003; 105 (5): 577-84.