Saadeh Suleiman, a Professor of Cardiac Physiology in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, has been elected a Fellow of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. This honour is bestowed on cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists and scientists for high achievements in their field and distinguished services in promoting cardiovascular research, education and healthcare delivery.

Professor Suleiman is one of the chief investigators in the Bristol Heart Institute. His research involves investigating the cellular mechanisms underlying the damaging effects of cardiac insults, and to formulate appropriate cardioprotective strategies. His work has uncovered important metabolic and ionic aspects relating to cardiac insults and the role of cardiac amino acids which were used to assess the efficacy of different cardioplegic techniques during open heart surgery. His pioneering work in paediatric cardiac surgery has shown that cardiac vulnerability to insults is not only different from adult but also is dependent on developmental age, cyanosis and pathology all requiring different cardioprotective techniques. His work has also provided direct evidence showing that cyanotic (blue) children, with congenital heart disease, sustain cardiac damage due to re-oxygenation prior to ischemic cardioplegic arrest. Recently he characterised an experimental model of chronic coronary artery disease which is being used to investigate the effect of disease on cardiac oxidative stress, mitochondria and the underlying triggers of arrhythmia and sudden death. Prof. Suleiman has co-edited a book on Mitochondria and is currently involved in ongoing (and planned) clinical trials that target the mitochondria during adult and paediatric cardiac surgery.

There are only 250 Fellows of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences worldwide at any given time, and currently only four other Fellows from the UK: Sir George Radda, Sir Magdi Yacoub, Professor David Eisner and Professor Ajay Shah.

Professor Suleiman said: ‘I feel truly honoured to have been selected to join this prestigious group of international experts. I am grateful to the University for providing an excellent research environment and to my co-workers for their support.’