Our research focuses on two major areas: coronary heart disease and inherited cardiac arrhythmias. We strive to enhance risk stratification and enable early disease detection to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions.
We are particularly dedicated to understanding the genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors contributing to the first onset of myocardial infarction in the Malaysian population. A key collaboration in this area is the Malaysian Acute Vascular Events RIsK (MAVERIK) study, a multi-center case-control study on first-onset myocardial infarction. This study, funded by the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund, was conducted in partnership with the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge.
Our ongoing research employs cutting-edge methodologies. We use Liquid Chromatography -Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) for lipidomics, alongside inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to investigate the impact of heavy metal exposure on cardiovascular health. Additionally, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are being conducted to identify genetic variants associated with myocardial infarction.
Looking ahead, the Cardiovascular Unit plans to explore key areas such as polygenic risk scores for cardiovascular risk prediction, integrative omics for insights into disease mechanisms, and the potential impact of environmental exposures like heavy metals.
Through these ongoing and future endeavours, we aim to create meaningful contributions that drive prevention, treatment, and improved cardiovascular health outcomes for Malaysians. We are open to collaborations with researchers and clinicians who share our vision of advancing cardiovascular research and improving public health, fostering innovative solutions through shared expertise and resources.
