Vascular Medicine

Vascular Medicine has a strong laboratory and clinical research interest in diabetes-related complications and associated vascular metabolic abnormalities. It focuses on the pathophysiology of widespread abnormalities of cardiovascular function and body composition in chronic kidney disease patients and is embarking on a study of adipocyte (fat cell) function from different fat stores from insulin resistant and insulin sensitive patients.

New technology in the field of biomedical science has opened up exciting opportunities for translational research alongside an expanding Clinical Physiology Group into nutritional metabolism and muscle function & exercise in the context of diabetes.

• Vascular complications of diabetes including therapeutic angiogenesis
• Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity
• Metabolic and haemodynamic interactions between insulin resistance, endothelial function and cardiovascular disease
• Microvascular function in lower limb arterial and venous insufficiency
• Cardiovascular aspects of renal replacement therapy
• Vascular calcification and cardiovascular function
• Renal bone disease
• Metabolic aspects of peritoneal dialysis
• Hepato-renal syndromes, mechanisms and management
• Hypertension and cardiovascular risk reduction
• Cold intolerance, Raynauds Phenomenon
• Adipocyte function in different fat stores from insulin resistant and insulin sensitive patients
• Endocannabinoid function in adipocytes
• The pharmacology of cannabinoids in human arteries and the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids in cardiometabolic disorders
• Cannabinoid activation of nuclear receptors and its consequence
• The cytoprotective effects of phytocannabinoids

The Division has strong links with Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation trust which is also the administrative lead for a mid-Trent R&D programme in Diabetes. Professor Donnelly is editor of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism .