Translational Medicine

Albert Ferro
Translational Medicine MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert
Professor Ferro’s research has focused primarily on understanding vascular endothelial and platelet function, with particular reference to the L-arginine / nitric oxide system. His group has been examining signal-transduction mechanisms relating to nitric oxide biosynthesis in endothelial cells and platelets, both in health and in patients with cardiovascular disease states. Current disease areas being investigated are hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischaemic heart disease and heart failure. A major focus of current research is the understanding of the role of circulating monocyte-platelet aggregates in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. The goal of this research programme is to identify novel therapeutic targets for treatment of patients both with established cardiovascular disease and with cardiovascular risk factors. The work involves the complementary use of a variety of techniques such as cell culture, platelet aggregometry, flow cytometry, protein immunodetection, proteomics as well as biochemical assays of biosynthesis both of nitric oxide and of reactive oxygen species. This in vitro work is complemented by in vivo measurements of endothelial and vascular function (in collaboration with Professor Phil Chowienczyk).

International collaborators include Professor Xu Biao (Nanjing University Medical School, China) and Professor Ji Yong (Nanjing Medical University, China).



For further information please see http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/medicine/research/cardio/pi/ferro-a.html.

Stuart Allen Jones
Translational Medicine MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert
The UK is a world leader in the development of new medicines. At King’s there is a wealth of research talent in the clinical and scientific disciplines that support the drug development process and this was the main reason why I decided to join the institution 5 years ago after working in the pharmaceutical industry, first at Pfizer and then as Head of Research and development at MedPharm. Drug development requires a strong scientific base, but also appropriate clinical and commercial knowledge to apply the science where it will be most effective. This is the philosophy that drives both my research and teaching activities. I believe that physicians, pharmacists, specialist clinical researchers and scientists with experience in the pharmaceutical industry are best placed to develop new medicines, but they often need to broaden their skills beyond their area of specialty in order to effectively lead drug development programs. The MSc in Drug development at King’s is part of a suite of MSc programs in the field of pharmaceutical medicine which aim to provide the multidisciplinary knowledge and skills to develop new medicines. They are unique in that they train their participants to be leaders in the drug development sector. King’s is in an excellent position to provide this training as it can draw together the knowledge of world-class researchers, which have first hand experience of drug development, from the fields of medicine, pharmacology and pharmaceutical science. My job as course leader, which is to ensure that a coherent taught course in drug development is provided to those participating in it, is made much easier by the broad range of knowledge that my colleagues that teach in the College provide.