Senthil Vasan

My research interest is to study the link between metabolic complications of obesity, body fat distribution and risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. A lot of my work focusses on  exploring ethnic variations in disease risk, particularly in relation to body fat patterning.  My research is translational and interdisciplinary, combining statistical modelling and molecular epidemiology in large population based cohorts in the UK (Oxford Biobank). My research focus also includes the concept of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) where I use longitudinal birth cohorts in India (Vellore Birth Cohort and New Delhi Birth Cohort) to study associations between early growth and risk of cardiovascular disease in Asian Indians.  Currently, I am working on a 3-year collaborative project between Oxford, Southampton and India funded by the British Heart Foundation. The research includes Echocardiographic assessment of cardiac structure and function in ~3000 Asian Indians. The key question here is to find out if Asian Indians have an inherent morphological defect in the myocardium which is related to early growth and development which contributes to increased susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. The study also includes body composition assessment using DXA and measurement of metabolic risk markers related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  My clinical interests are in Diabetes and Endocrinology.