{"id":5026,"date":"2024-12-18T09:44:40","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T09:44:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/imperial-medicine\/?p=5026"},"modified":"2024-12-19T15:39:16","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T15:39:16","slug":"exploring-new-frontiers-in-coronary-heart-disease-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/imperial-medicine\/2024\/12\/18\/exploring-new-frontiers-in-coronary-heart-disease-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring new frontiers in coronary heart disease research"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dr<\/p>\n

This festive period, Three Wise Women from the Faculty of Medicine<\/a> will be giving us the gift of wisdom.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Dr Rasha Al-Lamee<\/a>, Clinical Reader in the\u00a0National Heart & Lung Institute\u00a0<\/a>and Clinical Academic Interventional Cardiology Consultant at\u00a0Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust<\/a>, highlights the unique strengths of the UK\u2019s life sciences research ecosystem, from the NHS to the invaluable contributions of patients. She reflects on her groundbreaking ORBITA trials, which challenged conventional wisdom about stenting for coronary artery disease. Dr Al-Lamee also shares how these experiences have shaped her career and passion for mentoring the next generation of cardiologists.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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We are fortunate in the UK to have a well-developed infrastructure for research in life sciences. Our universal healthcare system within the NHS, world-leading academic institutions, and dedicated researchers provide a unique environment for innovation. Most importantly, it is our incredible patients\u2014who not only understand the need for research but are willing to participate\u2014that make groundbreaking studies possible. This unique combination allows us to lead the world in delivering research that tests novel treatments, evaluates existing practices, and paves the way for guideline-changing clinical practice.<\/p>\n

As a clinical trialist, I have been privileged to work within this exceptional ecosystem. It has allowed me to carry out work that I do not believe could have been conducted in many other places in the world. My focus has been on treatments for \u2018stable\u2019 coronary artery disease, a condition that affects around 2.3 million people in the UK and causes chest pain, breathlessness, and sometimes pain throughout the body. Treatments often include medicines or angioplasty, a procedure where stents\u2014wire mesh tubes\u2014are placed into arteries to open blockages. However, since its introduction, there has been ongoing debate about whether the relief patients experience is due to the procedure itself or a placebo effect.<\/p>\n

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Breaking new ground: The ORBITA trials<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To address this, I led the ORBITA trial<\/a>, which analysed the effect of stenting versus placebo procedures for patients with stable angina, a type of chest pain usually caused by coronary heart disease. It was the first of its kind and our patients were remarkable; they consented to being sedated and wearing headphone during the procedure, not knowing whether they received an actual stent or a placebo. They remained blinded to the treatment for months. It was inspiring to work with patients who demonstrated such trust in the research process. Their willingness to contribute helped us gain insights that were translatable to patients worldwide.<\/p>\n

“It is our incredible patients\u2014who not only understand the need for research but are willing to participate\u2014that make groundbreaking studies possible.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The results of ORBITA, published in The Lancet<\/em><\/a>, were transformative. Interestingly, they revealed that while the stents improved blood flow, they did not alleviate symptoms more effectively than drug treatments, suggesting that the placebo effect may have been larger than previously thought. This challenged longstanding assumptions and inspired further research into coronary artery disease.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n