Nurul Abdul Samad

Profile

I am currently a PhD student at Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM), funded by the Malaysian Graduate Excellent Programme (GREP) sponsored by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA). Prior to pursuing PhD research, I worked as a cardiac scientist in the medical industry, where I gained invaluable experiences and insights into cardiac arrhythmias care and the practical challenge associated with cardiac devices therapy. This background has greatly influenced my current research approach. 

My research focusses on bradyarrythmias populations, specifically investigating the degree of mechanical dyssynchrony in the left ventricle caused by artifical pacing stimulation.

Bradyarrythmias, characterised by abnormally slow heart rhythms, often require the implantations of artificial pacemakers to regulate heart rate. Although pacemakers have been used as a safe and reliable treatment for nearly six decades, artifical pacing stimulation can sometimes lead to mechanical dyssynchrony of the left ventricle, where the heart’s contraction become uneven. This dyssynchrony over time can negatively impact cardiac function and patient outcomes, such as heart failure hospitalisations and death. This area of research is actively debated, with ongoing discussions about optimising strategies to predict and mitigate these negative impacts.

My research employs advanced echocardiographic techniques, such as myocardial work analysis to predict left ventricular dyysynchrony at earlier stage. By identifying these issues sooner, timely intervention and prevention could help to avoid the progression of heart failure, thereby could improve their long-term outcomes. 

Achievements:

• Accepted abstract at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) conference held in Barcelona, Spain in 2022
• Accepted abstract at the American Heart Association (AHA) conference held in Philadelphia, United States in 2023

Professional Memberships:

• Professional member of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
• Professional member of the American Heart Association (AHA)

I am honoured to be supervised by distinguished team of experts, Dr. Maria Paton, Prof. Klaus Witte, and Dr. John Gierula, whose guidance and expertise are inaluable to my research journey.  

Feel free to to reach out for any collaboratives opportunities or discussions related to my research interests.  

Research interests

• Cardiac Physiology
• Echocardiography
• Cardiac Arrhythmias
• Heart Failure
• Implantable Cardiac Devices

Qualifications

• M.Sc
• B.Sc (Hons)