I am a Clinical Associate Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of East Anglia and an honorary Consultant Cardiologist at Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital. I studied medicine at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt and completed an intercalated BSc in Physiology at King’s College London (first class honours) and an MSc in International Health Policy at the London School of Economics (merit). I was awarded a doctor of medicine (research) degree, magna cum laude, working on endothelial progenitor cells at the University of Frankfurt and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Cambridge for my work on the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in atherosclerosis. My postgraduate clinical training was at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals and later in Cambridge, Papworth and Norwich.

Qualifications and Memberships

·     FESC, Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology

·     FHEA, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

·      PhD, University of Cambridge

·      MRCP, Member of the Royal College of Physicians

·      Doktor der Medizin, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany

·      Medizinisches Staatsexamen, primary medical qualification, Frankfurt, Germany

·      MSc in International Health Policy, London School of Economics

·      Intercalated BSc in Physiology, King’s College London

Follow me on twitter @DrJReinhold

Iron deficiency in the heart

I am interested in studying the effects of iron deficiency on the heart both in clinical studies and on a cellular level.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cardiomyocytes rely on specialised metabolism to meet the high-energy demand of the heart. During differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes their metabolism matures, however, cardiac diseases such as heart failure secondary to myocardial infarction are characterised by perturbed metabolism with a shift towards immature metabolism. A similar shift in metabolism can be observed during simulated iron deficiency using iron chelation.

My clinical research centres around the effects of iron deficiency on patients with acute coronary syndrome. Whilst the effects of iron deficiency on heart failure are well established, the evidence for a role of iron deficiency in acute coronary syndrome is currently still evolving.

Key publications:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37635412/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36975880/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33326805/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35050131/

Ischaemia/Reperfusion injury

Large advances have been made in the treatments of acute myocardial infarction. Cornerstone of successful therapy is timely reperfusion of the ischaemic tissue, ideally in the form of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Paradoxically, reperfusion of ischaemic tissues induces further damage, a process known as ischaemia/reperfusion injury. I am interested in the molecular mechanism underlying this damage and in particular the role of mitochondria and succinate-driven reverse electron transport at Complex I as well as compounds that can reduce this damage.

Key publications:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23708290/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35959683/

Shared decision making

Shared decision making (SDM) is a patient-centred framework facilitating patient rights to involvement in their care. Ultimately this allows patients to take ownership of their treatments and could help reduce overuse of potentially ineffective treatments, reduce practice variation and increase patient satisfaction with their care. Interventions to increase SDM are effective in cardiology and should be utilised more widely in routing cardiology care.

Key publications:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36007938/