Stephen Wheatcroft

Profile

Overview

I am an academic interventional cardiologist and vascular biologist, leading a research group focussing on the role of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in cardio-metabolic disease.

Undergraduate and clinical training

I graduated in Medicine from the University of Birmingham in 1994. After general medical training posts in the West Midlands, I undertook clinical training in Cardiology and Coronary Intervention at Kings College Hospital London. Clinical training was consolidated by visiting fellowships in primary coronary intervention at Charles University, Czech Republic (Professor Petr Widimsky) and at Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków (Prof Dariusz Dudek) 2004-2005. I completed clinical training in cardiology in 2006.

Post-graduate research training

I was awarded a British Heart Foundation Clinical Research Training Fellowship to undertake a PhD in Cardiovascular Medicine at Kings College, London 2000-2003. I was a visiting research fellow at Mount Sinai Medical School, New York (Prof Juan Badimon) in 2004.

I then joined the University of Leeds in 2006 as Clinical Senior Lecturer in Cardiovascular Medicine. Further research training was supported by a British Heart Foundation Clinical Intermediate Research Fellowship 2007-2011 and a European Research Council Starting Grant 2013-2017. I was awarded a Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship to gain experience in commercialisation of fundamental research between 2009-2010. I was promoted to Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine in 2019.

Prizes & Awards

British Atherosclerosis Society Michael Davies Young Investigator Award 2005

British Society for Cardiovascular Research Bernard & Joan Marshall Research Excellence Prize 2017

British Atherosclerosis Society John French Lecturer 2016

Fellowship of European Society of Cardiology 2016

Committee Membership/Selected Markers of Esteem

British Heart Foundation Project Grants Committee 2012-15

British Atherosclerosis Society Executive Committee 2010-2014

Heart Research UK Translational Grants Committee 2010-present

British Journal of Pharmacology Editorial Board 2016-present

Responsibilities

• Director of Research & Innovation - School of Medicine
• Head of Discovery and Translational Science Department

Research interests

Basic Science Research Interests

My research focuses on understanding the role of the insulin-like growth factor system in cardiovascular and metabolic disease. I have a specific interest in the effects of the IGF-binding proteins in vascular biology and glucose regulation. My research has been supported by grants from the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, Medical Research Council and European Research Council. I am principal investigator and group leader for discovery science and translational projects focusing on:

• IGF binding proteins in metabolism and vascular biology
• Novel approaches to therapeutic angiogenesis
• Mechanisms of endothelial regeneration and repair
• Insulin resistance and vascular endothelial function

Clinical Science Research Interests

My clinical research interests focus on coronary physiology and management of acute coronary syndromes. I am a national or local Investigator for multicenter interventional research studies including:

• REAL TIMI 63B (randomised phase 2 trial of biologic therapy in STEMI) (UK Lead Investigator)
• RIPCORD 2 (randomised trial of FFR versus angiography)
• RIPCORD (randomised trial of FFR versus angiography)
• UK Absorb Registry (registry of Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds)

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons)
• MBChB (Hons)
• PhD
• FRCP
• FESC

Professional memberships

• British Cardiovascular Society
• British Atherosclerosis Society
• British Cardiovascular Research Society
• British Cardiovascular Intervention Society
• European Society of Cardiology (Fellow)
• American Heart Association

Student education

Undergraduate Education

I teach on the MBChB undergraduate curriculum and on the intercalated BSc in Cardiovascular Medicine.

Postgraduate Education

I have supervised 6 PhD students and 4 MD students and examined >10 higher degrees as external examiner

I am an educational supervisor for trainees in Cardiology and Core Medical Training in Yorkshire and Humber Deanery,

I am the academic representative on the Specialist Training Committee for Cardiology in Leeds (Yorkshire & Humber Deanery).

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine
• Cardiometabolic
• Discovery and Translational Science
• Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre