Raman Group: Pioneering Precision Medicine in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Advanced Imaging, Machine Learning, and Translational Research for Early Detection and Targeted Therapies
- Betty Raman
We welcome talented and passionate researchers interested in studying for a DPhil to join my research programme, which focuses on revolutionising how we diagnose, treat, and predict outcomes for patients with genetic cardiomyopathies like Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)—the most common inherited cardiac condition, affecting 1 in 200 to 1 in 500 individuals worldwide.
About the Research
Why HCM?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease of the cardiac muscle, is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death, heart failure, and arrhythmias, particularly in young individuals and athletes. Approximately one-third of patients with HCM carry mutations in genes coding for sarcomeric proteins, which are believed to drive the disease. However, not all individuals with these genetic variants progress to develop cardiomyopathy.
While emerging disease-specific therapies and gene-editing technologies offer hope for a cure, they come with substantial costs and limited data on long-term safety. This underscores the urgent need for better tools to guide clinical decisions.
As part of my research programme, I and others are addressing three critical questions:
- How can we better predict disease progression in individuals carrying HCM-related genetic variants?
- How can we effectively monitor the impact of novel therapies in patients with early-stage disease?
- How can we improve early detection, risk stratification, targeted treatments, and surveillance worldwide and specifically in resource-limited settings, such as low- and middle-income countries?
Answering these questions requires the development of precise, scalable tools to identify at-risk individuals, guide timely interventions, and maximise therapeutic benefits, paving the way for a more equitable and effective approach to HCM management globally.
What Will You Work On?
In our programme, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Develop advanced state-of -the art non-invasive imaging techniques like cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT) to detect early signs of disease activity and predict progression. (Collaboration with Prof Ladislav Valkovic/Oliver Rider, Prof Vanessa Ferreira/Stefan Piechnik, Prof Hugh Watkins, Prof Charalambos Antoniades)
- Validate innovative imaging biomarkers that can dynamically measure treatment response, enabling early interventions.
Oxygen sensitive imaging of the heart revealing abnormalities in oxygen consumption in human HCM heart and pathogenic gene vac - Explore alternative, patient-friendly approaches (e.g., exercise OS CMR and perfusion imaging) to improve diagnostic accuracy without the need for invasive procedures.
- Apply innovative machine learning approaches and computational methods to integrate high-dimensional MRI, genetic, and ECG data, creating predictive models that identify individuals at risk of disease progression. (Collaborations with Prof Qiang Zhang, Prof Alfonso Bueno-Orovio)
Link: Published in Cardiovascular Research - Investigate scalable non-invasive imaging methods using machine learning (e.g., radiomics, texture analysis) permitting integration of granular data from high-resolution myocardial imaging and transcriptomics (ORFAN study) to standard low-resolution imaging for early identification and risk stratification of HCM in resource-limited settings. (Collaboration with Prof Antoniades)
Image demonstrating the potential of novel imaging approaches for fibrosis assessment (adapted from publication) Link: Published in EHJCI
- Engage in translational research, in collaboration with Professor Christopher Toepfer, Prof Elizabeth Ormondroyd, and Dr Ying Jie, exploring how insights from iPSC-derived cellular and animal models of genetic diseases can deepen our understanding of disease progression, arrhythmogenesis, and the mechanisms driving HCM. This work offers an opportunity to bridge cutting-edge basic science with clinical applications.
Why Join?
- Be part of an award-winning diverse team – My DPhil and DM students have gone on to win early career awards at international and national conferences (e.g., SCMR, ESC, AICC, BSCMR finalist, RSM, ERS Late breaking Trial presenter), with publications in high-impact journals.
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Collaborate with leading experts in cardiac imaging, genetic therapies, machine learning, and data science.
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Work with state-of-the-art clinical technologies, such as oxygen-sensitive CMR, diffusion tensor imaging, 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance imaging, high-resolution pixel-wise quantitative perfusion mapping, and photon-counting CT for tissue characterisation.
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Explore cardiac and extracardiac interactions in genetic heart disease.
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Be involved in the development and delivery of clinical trials, evaluating the efficacy of novel therapeutics for inherited cardiomyopathies, and publish in high-impact journals.
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Gain hands-on experience in applying machine learning to analyse complex biomedical datasets, combining imaging, genomics, and clinical data to uncover actionable insights.
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Work collaboratively with experts in computational modelling to develop a digital twin model that simulates the biophysical processes underpinning diseases like HCM.
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Contribute to real-world advancements that could globalise imaging protocols, accelerate drug discovery, and improve patient outcomes.
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Collaborate with experts in iPSC modelling.
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Collaborate internationally as part of efforts like the CureHeart programme, aimed at genetic cures for cardiomyopathies.
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Be involved in efforts to understand interactions across the heart and multiple organ systems.
The Impact
By joining this programme, you’ll be at the forefront of a movement to change how we manage HCM. Together, we will:
- Develop tools to identify at-risk gene carriers early.
- Accelerate testing and development of novel genetic treatments for young patients with early-stage cardiomyopathies.
- Enhance the accessibility and scalability of imaging technologies for use worldwide.
Generate new intellectual property (IP).
How to Apply
If you are passionate about applying imaging, machine learning, and genetics to real-world clinical challenges and are excited to work on impactful research, I’d love to hear from you.
Additional Supervisors
Training Opportunities
- Genetic heart diseases
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance acquisition and analysis
- Cardiac DT CMR acquisition and analysis
- Cardiac Oxygen and perfusion sensitive imaging acquisition and analysis
- 4D flow MRI acquisition and analysis
- Metabolic imaging
- Cardiac CT (photon counting)
- Radiomics
- Machine learning
- Clinical trials experience
- Preclinical/translation skills if interested (iPS cardiomyocyte generation and cell culture, senetic engineering using CRISPR/Cas9, Sanger Sequencing)
Students will be 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.