Dr Adrian H Chester

Adrian Chester is a Reader in Cardiovascular Pharmacology in the Heart Science Centre at Harefield Hospital. Dr. Chester is also the local NHLI Postgraduate Tutor and Chair of the Heart Science Centre Health and Safety Committee. He sits on a number of other Departmental, Divisional and College committees.

Dr. Chester obtained a B.Sc (Hons) in Pharmacology from Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1986. After a period working in industry, he moved to the Heart Science Centre to study for a Ph.D under the supervision of the eminent cardiac surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub. His thesis was entitled "Receptor Pharmacology of the Human Coronary Artery" and during this time Dr. Chester established a laboratory at Harefield that was dedicated to examining vascular mechanisms in human blood vessels. During and following his Ph.D studies his work included examining the role of 5-HT receptor subtypes, endothelium-derived mediators such as endothelin and nitric oxide and the activity of the renin-angiotensin system in human coronary arteries and vessels used for coronary artery bypass grafting. In 1992 he was appointed to the position of Lecturer within the National Heart and Lung Institute and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2002.

Dr. Chester's current work investigates the role of valve endothelial and interstitial cells in the regulation of heart valve function and in the processes that lead to the calcification of the aortic valve. These projects are closely related to a programme of research within the Heart Science Centre that has the goal of tissue engineering a human heart valve. The group works closely with Clinicians, Engineers and Material Scientists through a number of national and international collaborative projects.

Dr. Chester is a member of the British Pharmacological Society, Tissue Engineering International and Regenerative Medicine Society and is a member of the Executive Council of the International Society for Applied Cardiovascular Biology. In addition he is the Secretary and Treasurer of the Society for Heart Valve Disease.