ferns_gordon - Keele University

Prof Gordon A A Ferns BSc (Hons), MSc (Clin Biochem), DSc (Med Sci), MB, BS (Lond), MD, LRCP, MRCS, FRCPath, DiplHlthMgt

Title: Professor of Metabolic Medicine
Consultant in Clinical Biochemistry
Associate Medical Director, North Staffordshire NHS Research & Development
Clinical Director, West Midlands North Clinical Local Research Network
Phone: +44 (0)1782 554718
Email:
Location: Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7QB United Kingdom
Role: ISTM Research theme: 1. Neuroscience & Human Metabolism
Contacting me: Please call or e-mail Miss Paula Marsh: +44 (0)1782 554253 / p.marsh@bemp.keele.ac.uk
Prof Gordon A A Ferns

Professor Ferns qualified in Medicine from St Barts, University of London then undertook speciality training in Chemical Pathology at the hospital where he worked on the molecular genetics of diabetes and atherosclerosis supported by a Wellcome Clinical Fellowship.

Following his MD, Gordon spent three years in Seattle, Washington as American Heart Association-British Heart Foundation Fellow developing models of accelerated atherosclerosis. He returned to the UK in 1991 to the post of Senior Scientist in the William Harvey Research Institute. He was appointed to a Senior Lectureship in Chemical Pathology at the University of Leicester (1993-1995), then moved to the University of Surrey as Chair of Metabolic and Molecular Medicine, a post he held for 14 years. In 2007 he was appointed Dean of Medicine at the University and Clinical Director of the NIHR Surrey & Sussex Comprehensive Local Research Network. In November 2009 Gordon moved to Keele University to take up the combined post of Director of the Research Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine in the Faculty of Health and Director of R&D at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

Gordon Ferns has published over 300 articles, has received grant support from the MRC, BHF, BBSRC and MAFF, and was awarded a DSc from London University in 2003.

Previous appointments:

Director, Research Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine, Keele University Nov 2009 - present
Director of R&D, University Hospital of North Staffordshire Nov 2009 - present
Clinical Director

Surrey & Sussex Comprehensive Local Research Network

 Nov 2007 - present
Dean and Head of Division

Postgraduate Medical School, University of Surrey

 Feb 2007 - Oct 2009
Vice Dean

Postgraduate Medical School, University of Surrey

 April 2006 - Jan 2007

Professor of Metabolic & Molecular Medicine, Consultant in Clinical Biochemistry
FHMS, University of Surrey, and The Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford

 Jan 1996 - Oct 2009

Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Chemical Pathology
Glenfield General Hospital, University of  Leicester

 Nov 1993 - Dec 1995

Senior Scientist and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Chemical Pathology
The William Harvey Research Institute, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, London

 Oct 1990 - Oct 1993

British Heart Foundation-American Heart Association, reciprocal fellowship and Senior Research Fellow
Dept of Pathology SM-30, University of Washington, Seattle USA

 Jan 1988 - Sept 1990

Locum Consultant in Chemical Pathology
West Essex Health Authority, Princess Alexandra, St Margaret's and the Herts and Essex Hospitals

 Aug 1987 - Dec 1987

Research Fellow/ Hon Senior Registrar in the Dept of Diabetes & Lipid Research,
St Bartholomew's Hospital, London

 Nov 1983 - July 1987
House Posts in Medicine, Surgery and Pathology
Newmarket and London		 Feb 1980-Oct 1983

 

Qualifications:

DSc, London University 2003
Diploma in Health Management, Keele University 1994
Final MRCPath 1987; FRCPath 1997
MD thesis: "Lipoproteins, apoproteins and genetic polymorphisms in disorders related to atherosclerosis," awarded December 1986
MSc (Clinical Biochemistry), London University, 1983
MRCS (Eng.), LRCP (Lond.) 1979; MB, BS (Lond.) 1980 
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Medical Sciences, London University, 1976.
 

ISTM Research theme: 1. Neuroscience & Human Metabolism

Professor Ferns' research and clinical interests include the causes and management of coronary heart disease and other metabolic disorders:

  • Dietary management of coronary risk
  • Cellular mechanisms of atherogenesis
  • Trace elements and antioxidants in disease
  • Clinical management of Dyslipidaemia
  • Insulin resistance

Personal awards for research:

Fournier Research Award 

 1997
British Heart Foundation-American Heart Association Reciprocal Fellowship     1988-90
Wellcome Trust Pathology Training Fellowship 1984-87
Aylwen Research Bursary, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College 1983-84
BUPA special research award 1981

 


Selected research grants in last ten years:

British Heart Foundation

"The autoimmune response to heat shock protein 27 and its role in atherogenesis"

 £157,522 2009-11

British Heart Foundation PhD studentship (Alyss Dreux)
"EGF receptor on macrophages and their function"

 £66,000 2003-06

British Heart Foundation PhD studentship (Michelle Tickner)
"Copper and macrophage apoptosis"    

 £57,000

2001-04

 

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food project grant (with DJ Millward et al)
"Optimising dietary n3/n6-fatty acids"

 £1,200,000 2000-03

Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (with Dr S Reddy)
"Development of a biosensor for cholesterol"

 £52,953 1999-2002

British Heart Foundation Project Grant
"Immune response to BCG and its effects on atherogenesis"

 £117,000 1999-2001

Patents:

Ferns G, Vaidya N (2005). Hsp27 a marker of myocardial ischaemia.

Ross R, Raines E, Reidy MA, Lindner V and Ferns GAA (1997). The use of antibodies to prevent re?stenosis after PTCA. USA Patent No 5,648,076

Selected publications:

Lamb DJ, Avades TY, Ferns GAA (2001). Endogenous neutralising antibodies against plateletderived growth factor-AA inhibits atherogenesis in the cholesterol-fed rabbit. Arterioscler Thromb & Vasc Biol 21, 997-1003.

Ferns GAA et al (1992). Probucol inhibits neo-intimal thickening and macrophage accumulation following balloon injury in the cholesterol-fed rabbit. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA. 89, 11213-11316.

Ferns GAA, et al (1991). Anti-PDGF IgG inhibits intimal smooth muscle cell accumulation in response to arterial injury. Science 253, 1129-1132

Ferns GAA, Reidy MA, Ross R (1990). In-vivo and in-vitro effects of cyclosporin A on rabbit vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Am J Path 137, 403-414

Ferns GAA et al (1985). DNA polymorphisms of genes for apo CIII and insulin in survivors of myocardial infarction. Lancet ii, 300-304.