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- Gordon 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. In 2012 he moved to become Professor of Medical Education and Metabolic Medicine, at Brighton & Susses Medical School. He continues active collaborations with ISTM's research, eg with Dr Sarah Hart on the proteomics of atherosclerosis, and Prof David Smith FRS on breath analysis in diabetics.
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.
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Previous appointments:
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Qualifications: DSc, London University 2003 |
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:
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| British Heart Foundation
"The autoimmune response to heat shock protein 27 and its role in atherogenesis" |
£157,522 | 2009-11 |
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British Heart Foundation PhD studentship (Alyss Dreux) |
£66,000 | 2003-06 |
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British Heart Foundation PhD studentship (Michelle Tickner) |
£57,000 |
2001-04
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Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food project grant (with DJ Millward et al) |
£1,200,000 | 2000-03 |
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Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (with Dr S Reddy) |
£52,953 | 1999-2002 |
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British Heart Foundation Project Grant |
£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.
