This year’s face-to-face event took place on 20 June, when we welcomed 50 attendees, including 25 SCAD patients and six members of the Leicester SCAD research and clinical team (pictured), for a walk in the glorious sunshine, followed by a Research Update.
Rebecca Breslin, Beat SCAD Chair, updated everyone on our work over the past few months, including training new Buddies to support newly diagnosed patients, the growth of the Welsh regional group and the development of a SCAD booklet for healthcare professionals. She also thanked all our supporters, fundraisers and the research team for all they do for the community.
Dr David Adlam, Senior Lecturer, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Cardiovascular Research Centre at Glenfield General Hospital, Leicester, then took the stage to recap some of the achievements over the past decade since research began and updated us on the clinical services in Leicester, Scotland and London.
He told the audience that there has been huge progress in terms of research, but there are still many questions to be answered, including the role of genes and hormones in SCAD. As part of the research to find answers, saliva kits have been sent to SCAD patients to collect DNA and Dr Mazhar Warraich, Clinic Fellow (pictured), explained his work investigating genetic data using this saliva, updating the UK SCAD Registry, and analysing data in the EU SCAD Registry to identify future research areas. Click here to find out more.
One goal is to improve diagnostic techniques for SCAD to reduce the use of invasive techniques. He highlighted Dr Charles Badu-Boateng’s study looking at CT scans to see if there are any SCAD identifers. Dr Badu-Boateng discussed this at our Conference last year.
Shameen Noor, PhD Researcher, told us that she is studying blood proteins to see if a biomarker for SCAD could be developed. Click here to find out more.
Dr Anju Velvet, Clinical Research Fellow, whose PhD is majority funded by Beat SCAD, explained her study looking at the association of sex hormones and SCAD, as well as the clinical research trial investigating the safety of HRT for SCAD patients and the efficacy of managing post-SCAD chest pain with HRT (click here for more). Click here to find out more.
Dr Adlam then answered questions from attendees, ranging from troponin tests, risk of recurrence, post-SCAD chest pain, supplements, travel after SCAD and cardiac rehab.
Thanks to Dr Adlam and the research and clinical team for giving up their time to attend this event, to the attendees, the venue, the NSPCC Training Centre in Leicester, and to the team at Triskelle Pictures for filming and editing the video and taking pictures throughout the day.
Click here to watch the video of the day and see more photos below.
