Professor recognised with prestigious award
Published: 13 July 2009
A Glasgow professor has been recognised for his 35-years of research into the causes and prevention of blood clots.
A Glasgow professor has been recognised for his 35-years of research into the causes and prevention of blood clots.
Prof Gordon Lowe, Professor of Vascular Medicine in the Department of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, received the Investigator Award from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis at a ceremony in Boston today.
The award recognises Prof Lowe’s contribution to research on the causes and prevention of thrombosis since 1975, when he joined the University Medical Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Prof Lowe has studied the role of several blood-clotting factors in thrombosis, measuring these in blood samples from over 60 thousand participants in Scotland, the UK and Europe, in studies of heart attacks, strokes and deep vein thrombosis in the legs.
He said: “We have established that raised levels of several clotting factors increase the risk of these thrombotic events. This may be a mechanism explaining why clinical risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, social deprivation and use of hormone pills, increase risk.
“Our current work explores whether blood levels of clotting factors should be measured to help increase prediction of thrombosis; and also explores which genetic factors increase clotting factor levels. One of the clotting factors we have studied most is fibrinogen, which is very appropriate because Dr Andrew Buchanan discovered that this was the first blood factor involved in clot formation, in Glasgow Royal Infirmary, in 1831.”
Prof Lowe has also participated in many clinical trials of drugs to prevent thrombosis; and has chaired several UK groups developing clinical practice guidelines for prevention of thrombosis in persons at increased risk. He was awarded a Doctor of Science Degree by the University of Glasgow in 2006.
Prof Gordon Lowe, Professor of Vascular Medicine in the Department of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, received the Investigator Award from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis at a ceremony in Boston today.
The award recognises Prof Lowe’s contribution to research on the causes and prevention of thrombosis since 1975, when he joined the University Medical Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Prof Lowe has studied the role of several blood-clotting factors in thrombosis, measuring these in blood samples from over 60 thousand participants in Scotland, the UK and Europe, in studies of heart attacks, strokes and deep vein thrombosis in the legs.
He said: “We have established that raised levels of several clotting factors increase the risk of these thrombotic events. This may be a mechanism explaining why clinical risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, social deprivation and use of hormone pills, increase risk.
“Our current work explores whether blood levels of clotting factors should be measured to help increase prediction of thrombosis; and also explores which genetic factors increase clotting factor levels. One of the clotting factors we have studied most is fibrinogen, which is very appropriate because Dr Andrew Buchanan discovered that this was the first blood factor involved in clot formation, in Glasgow Royal Infirmary, in 1831.”
Prof Lowe has also participated in many clinical trials of drugs to prevent thrombosis; and has chaired several UK groups developing clinical practice guidelines for prevention of thrombosis in persons at increased risk. He was awarded a Doctor of Science Degree by the University of Glasgow in 2006.
For more information contact Stuart Forsyth in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 4831 or email s.forsyth@admin.gla.ac.uk
First published: 13 July 2009
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