Dr Alena Shantsila MD, PhD

Research Overview

My main research focus is understanding of mechanisms of blood pressure control and pathogenesis of hypertension, including clinical implications. I am interested in long team consequences of uncontrolled blood pressure on target organ damage and I am currently supervising two PhD students looking into it problem.

I have substantial experience in echocardiography and vascular ultrasonography (carotid, peripheral artery and venous, flow mediated dilatation), including assessment of coronary flow reserve using myocardial contrast stress echocardiography, contrast carotid ultrasonography, 3D-echo, assessment of microvascular function (laser Doppler flowmetry). I am familiar with different types of statistical analysis, including complex regression models, receiver-operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, decision curve analysis (DCA) and other different approaches to test the predictive discrimination of the parameters.

My management experience includes the role of National coordinator of the Atrial Fibrillation General Long Term (AF-GEN) Registry and AF-GEN UK extension study; management of preparation and revision of clinical international expert consensus documents; I was a project manager for the NIHR Global Health Research of AF Management GHR 17/63/121, partner countries Brazil, China, Sri Lanka and UK. Also was involved in the management of the joined MRC Newton Fund: TREATS-AF.

I am collaborating with the endocrinology team at Alder Hey Hospital, investigating cardiovascular health in children and adolescents with different endocrine pathology.

I act as a reviewer for the Journal of Hypertension, Hypertension and BMJ open.