Leeson Group: Digital Twins and AI in Preventive Cardiology Research

About the Research

The Preventive Cardiology Research Group aims to improve how we identify and prevent heart disease in young people, with a particular interest in the impact of hypertension on disease development.

The group has access to (1) unique, curated, multi-organ, multi-modal imaging and sample collections, to which machine learning has been applied to develop a better understanding of disease mechanism and progression and (2) large scale multi-centre ultrasound datasets that have been used to develop and validate new image-based AI tools for disease identification and management. Therefore, there are opportunities for MSc projects to use the datasets to: refine the models that have been created; undertake a focused piece of research on an aspect of disease development; or perform a piece of validation work related to the developed tools.

Due to the multi-disciplinary approach and composition of the group (e.g. clinicians, physiologists, clinical scientists, biomedical engineers) the projects in the research group are appropriate to clinical trainees as well as physiology graduates and computational scientists with an interest in clinical research.

This MSc by Research project is suitable for part-time research. 

Training Opportunities

This project will develop experience of handling a range of data derived from imaging and human physiology studies as well as opportunities to develop practical experiences of these techniques. As appropriate training in image processing and analysis is available, including computational modelling and application of machine learning. The student would learn about regulatory issues surrounding data handling, clinical studies and randomised trials such as ethics, hospital R&D and GCP and information governance. As there are close links with laboratory studies on clinical samples there are also opportunities for interested, and appropriately experienced, individuals to combine clinical data analysis with laboratory research.

Students are encouraged to attend the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine DPhil Course, which takes place in the autumn of their first year. Running over several days, this course helps students to develop basic research and presentation skills, as well as introducing them to a wide range of scientific techniques and principles, ensuring that students have the opportunity to build a broad-based understanding of differing research methodologies.

Generic skills training is offered through the Medical Sciences Division's Skills Training Programme. This programme offers a comprehensive range of courses covering many important areas of researcher development: knowledge and intellectual abilities, personal effectiveness, research governance and organisation, and engagement, influence, and impact. Students are actively encouraged to take advantage of the training opportunities available to them.

As well as the specific training detailed above, students will have access to a wide range of seminars and training opportunities through the many research institutes and centres based in Oxford.

The Department has a successful mentoring scheme, open to graduate students, which provides an additional possible channel for personal and professional development outside the regular supervisory framework. We hold an Athena SWAN Silver Award in recognition of our efforts to build a happy and rewarding environment where all staff and students are supported to achieve their full potential.

Additional Supervisors

1. Winok Lapidaire 

2. Turkay Kart 

Publications