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Clinical & Diagnostic Science theme

The Clinical and Diagnostic Research theme in ISTM exploits state of the art basic science and health service research methodologies to answer important, clinically driven research questions.

Our basic science expertise includes genetics and epigenetics, structural biology, cell biology, including apoptosis and the control of cell growth and a wide range of analytical techniques such as proteomics, electromagnetic imaging and selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS).

The clinical areas to which these translational approaches are applied include in utero fetal wellbeing, the development of novel anti-cancer drugs, e.g. treatment of ovarian cancer, leukaemia and breast cancer and a wide range of chronic diseases with underlying common mechanisms of tissue injury such as diabetes, renal failure, coronary heart disease, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis and childhood asthma.

Innovative approaches to improved management of these conditions through diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of these frequently multimorbid patients include epigenetic screening, identification of useful prognostic biomarkers, imaging and breath analysis. Evaluation of best care includes health service research into perineal trauma, menstrual disorders, medicines for children, dialysis modality decision aids and the best use of the pathology service in patient management. 

CDS Theme Leader: Prof Gwyn Williams
CDS Clinical co-lead: Prof Simon Davies

For postgraduate research opportunities please go to the Prospective Student page.

ISTM Members in this theme

News features

  New Breath Analysis book Posted on 05 June 2013 Professor David Smith FRS has edited a new book on state-of-the-art breath analysis techniques.   From Pupil to Professor - inaugural lecture by Prof Pat Black Posted on 14 May 2013 Patricia Black, Professor of Pharmacy Professional Development and Education gave the latest lecture in Keele's programme of Inaugural Professorial Lectures.   International Medal for Prof Simon Davies Posted on 26 April 2013 Professor Simon Davies has been awarded the National Kidney Foundation's 2013 International Distinguished Medal, at its Spring Meeting in Orlando.   Major new grant for epigenetics study Posted on 09 April 2013 The Haywood Rheumatism Research & Development Foundation has awarded a three year grant to a partnership of Keele biomedical researchers and local consultants   IMPROvED pregnancy outcomes by early detection Posted on 04 January 2013 Two Keele Professors are playing an important part in the IMproved Pregnancy Outcomes by Early Detection (IMPROvED) consortium, pioneering personalised medicine to identify blood-borne biomarkers for pre-eclampsia.   New Analytical Technique for ISTM Laboratories Posted on 16 November 2012 Keele has invested in the latest Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) equipment, coupled to Thermal Desorption (TD) capability.   New Research Fellowship to study Co-morbidity in heart failure patients Posted on 28 September 2012 A 3 year Doctoral Research Fellowship from the NIHR has been awarded to Claire Rushton, Lecturer in Nursing & Midwifery   Lecture on Biomedical Engineering by Dr Ed Chadwick Posted on 23 November 2012 Dr Ed Chadwick gave a first lecture to colleagues to introduce his research at the Guy Hilton Research Centre on 23 November.   New Spectrophotometer benefits two lecturers’ research Posted on 29 June 2012 The purchase of a monochromator-based fluorescence spectrophotometer system in April has enabled two Keele lecturers to start a new series of experiments.   ISTM invests in the latest imaging equipment Posted on 23 May 2012 Fifteen members of the Research Institute now have access to the latest imaging equipment for their experiments on two sites   Nature article for Epigenomics students Posted on 30 April 2012 Final year PhD students Kiren Yacqub-Usman and Cuong Duong, were delighted to learn that their submission to Nature Reviews Endocrinology had been accepted.