Newcastle University

Background

Consultant Cardiologist with major interest in heart failure, Freeman Hospital since July 2004.
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Newcastle upon Tyne since 2004

Roles and Responsibilities

NHS Consultant with responsibility for advanced heart failure supporting heart transplant and ventricular assist device programmes at the Freeman Hospital

Qualifications

MB BCh (2.2 Hons): Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 1986
MRCPI 1988
MD (NUI) 1998
FRCPI
FACC
Specialist Register in Cardiology 2004

Previous Positions

1997-2004 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Heart Failure and Transplantation Cardiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Training at: University of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins University and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin

Honours and Awards

Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award, National Institutes of Health, 1999-2004

British Heart Foundation Clinical Leave Research Fellowship 2012-15 

Research Interests

Congestive heart failure/cardiomyopathy.
Transgenic mouse models of cardiomyopathy and altered cardiac function
Magnetic resonance imaging
Myocardial calcium handling
Ventricular mechanics

Current Work

In-vivo cardiac pressure volume loops in mouse models of cardiomyopathy

Magnetic resonance imaging of cardiac function and calcium handling with Mn2+ contrast enhancement

Magnetic resonance imaging of changes in cardiac function and energetics with ageing 

Research Roles

PI

Funding

Heart Research UK £80,000 (current funding)
Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (Stroke and Cardiovacular Aging themes)
Special Trustees £50,000
National Institutes of Health Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award $630,000
American Heart Association $80,000; British Heart Foundation Clinical Leave Research Fellowship 

• Hollingsworth KG, Blamire AM, Keavney BD, MacGowan GA. Left ventricular torsion, energetics, and diastolic function in normal human aging. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology 2012, 302(4), H885-H892.
• Hollingsworth KG, Macgowan GA, Morris L, Bates MG, Taylor R, Jones DE, Newton JL, Blamire AM. Cardiac torsion-strain relationships in fatigued primary biliary cirrhosis patients show accelerated aging: a pilot cross-sectional study. Journal of Applied Physiology 2012, 112(12), 2043-2048.
• Hollingsworth KG, Hodgson T, Macgowan GA, Blamire AM, Newton JL. Impaired cardiac function in chronic fatigue syndrome measured using magnetic resonance cardiac tagging. Journal of Internal Medicine 2012, 271(3), 264-270.
• MacGowan GA, Schueler S. Right heart failure after left ventricular assist device implantation: early and late. Current Opinion in Cardiology 2012, 27(3), 296-300.
• Hollingsworth KG, Gorman GS, Trenell MI, McFarland R, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM, Macgowan GA, Blamire AM, Chinnery PF. Cardiomyopathy is common in patients with the mitochondrial DNA m.3243A>G mutation and correlates with mutation load. Neuromuscular Disorders 2012, 22(7), 592-596.
• Macgowan GA, Parry G, Schueler S, Hasan A. The decline in heart transplantation in the UK. British Medical Journal 2011, 342, d2483.
• Jørgensen LH, Blain A, Greally E, Laval SH, Blamire AM, Davison BJ, Brinkmeier H, Macgowan GA, Schrøder HD, Bushby K, Straub V, Lochmüller H. Long-Term Blocking of Calcium Channels in mdx Mice Results in Differential Effects on Heart and Skeletal Muscle. American Journal of Pathology 2011, 178(1), 273-283.
• Bauer R, Blain A, Greally E, Lochmuller H, Bushby K, MacGowan GA, Straub V. Attenuation of adverse cardiac effects in prednisolone-treated delta-sarcoglycan-deficient mice by mineralocorticoid-receptor-antagonism. Neuromuscular Disorders 2010, 20(1), 21-28.
• Bauer R, Blain A, Greally E, Bushby K, Lochmuller H, Laval S, Straub V, MacGowan GA. Intolerance to beta-blockade in a mouse model of delta-sarcoglycan-deficient muscular dystrophy cardiomyopathy. European Journal of Heart Failure 2010, 12(11), 1163-1170.
• Botha P, MacGowan GA, Dark JH. Sildenafil Citrate Augments Myocardial Protection in Heart Transplantation. Transplantation 2010, 89(2), 169-177.
• Langley P, MacGowan GA, Murray A. Circadian variation of human ventricular fibrillation dominant frequency. Resuscitation 2010, 81(8), 950-955.
• Jones DEJ, Hollingsworth K, Fattakhova G, MacGowan G, Taylor R, Blamire A, Newton JL. Impaired cardiovascular function in primary biliary cirrhosis. American Journal of Physiology: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2010, 298(5), G764-G773.
• Botha P, Parry G, Dark JH, MacGowan GA. Acute hemodynamic effects of intravenous sildenafil citrate in congestive heart failure: comparison of phosphodiesterase type-3 and -5 inhibition. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2009, 28, 676-82.
• Bauer R, Straub V, Blain A, Bushby K, MacGowan GA. Contrasting effects of steroids and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors in a mouse model of dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy. European Journal of Heart Failure 2009, 11(5), 463-471.
• MacGowan GA. Good news for mice with heart attacks: preventing acute myocardial injury by inhibiting apoptosis. Cardiovascular Research 2009, 81, 1-2.
• Kirk JA, MacGowan GA, Evans C, Smith SH, Warren CM, Mamidi R, Chandra M, Stewart AF, Solaro RJ, Shroff SG. Left ventricular and myocardial function in mice expressing constitutively pseudophosphorylated cardiac troponin I. Circulation Research 2009, 105, 1232-9.
• MacGowan GA, Neely D, Peaston R, Wrightson N, Parry G. Evaluation of NT-proBNP to predict outcomes in advanced heart failure. International Journal of Clinical Practice 2010, 64(7), 892-899.
• Bauer R, MacGowan GA, Blain A, Bushby K, Straub V. Steroid treatment causes deterioration of myocardial function in the δ-sarcoglycan-deficient mouse model for dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular Research 2008, 79(4), 652-661.
• MacGowan GA, Kirk JA, Evans C, Shroff SG. Pressure-calcium relationships in perfused mouse hearts. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology 2006, 290(6), H2614-H2624.
• MacGowan GA, Rager J, Shroff SG, Mathier MA. In vivo α-adrenergic responses and troponin I phosphorylation: Anesthesia interactions. Journal of Applied Physiology 2005, 98(4), 1163-1170.
• MacGowan GA, Evans C, Hu TCC, Debrah D, Mullet S, Chen HH, McTiernan CF, Stewart AFR, Koretsky AP, Shroff SG. Troponin I protein kinase C phosphorylation sites and ventricular function. Cardiovascular Research 2004, 63(2), 245-255.
• MacGowan GA, Du C, Wieczorek DF, Koretsky AP. Compensatory changes in Ca(2+) and myocardial O(2) consumption in beta-tropomyosin transgenic hearts. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology 2001, 281(6), 2539-2548.
• MacGowan GA, Du C, Cowan DB, Stamm C, McGowan FX, Solaro RJ, Koretsky AP, Del Nido PJ. Ischemic dysfunction in transgenic mice expressing troponin I lacking protein kinase C phosphorylation sites. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology 2001, 280(2), 835-843.
• Hu TC, Pautler RG, MacGowan GA, Koretsky AP. Manganese-enhanced MRI of mouse heart during changes in inotropy. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2001, 46(5), 884-890.
• MacGowan GA, Burkhoff D, Rogers WJ, Salvador D, Azhari H, Hees PS, Zweier JL, Halperin HR, Siu CO, Lima JA, Weiss JL, Shapiro EP. Effects of afterload on regional left ventricular torsion. Cardiovasc Res 1996.
• MacGowan GA, Shapiro EP, Azhari H, Siu CO, Hees PS, Hutchins GM, Weiss JL, Rademakers FE. Noninvasive measurement of shortening in the fiber and cross-fiber directions in the normal human left ventricle and in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Circulation 1997.
• MacGowan GA, Janosko K, Cecchetti A, Murali S. Exercise-related ventilatory abnormalities and survival in congestive heart failure. Am J Cardiol 1997.
• MacGowan GA, Pohwani A, Murali S. Dynamic analysis of exercise oxygen consumption predicts outcomes in advanced heart failure. Congestive Heart Failure 2007, 13(6), 313-318.
• MacGowan GA, Mann DL, Kormos RL, Feldman AM, Murali S. Circulating interleukin-6 in severe heart failure. Am J Cardiol 1997.
• Botha P, Parry G, Dark JH, MacGowan GA. Intravenous sildenafil citrate for selective pulmonary vasodilatation in heart failure. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2007, 26(2), S133-S134.
• MacGowan GA, Kirk JA, Evans C, Shroff SG. Pressure-calcium relationships in perfused mouse hearts. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology 2006, 290(6), H2614-H2624.
• MacGowan GA, Haber HL, Cowart TD, Tedesco C, Wu C, Feldman MD. Direct myocardial effects of OPC-18790 in human heart failure: beneficial effects on contractile and diastolic function demonstrated by intracoronary infusion with pressure-volume analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol 1998.
• Du C, Pan Y, MacGowan GA, Koretsky AP. Decreasing motion artifacts in calcium-dependent fluorescence transients from the perfused mouse heart using frequency filtering. Cell Calcium 2004, 35(2), 141-153.
• MacGowan GA, Panzak G, Murali S. Exercise-related ventilatory abnormalities are more specific for functional impairment in chronic heart failure than reduction in peak exercise oxygen consumption. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2001, 20(11), 1167-1173.
• McNamara DM, Holubkov R, Postava L, Ramani R, Janosko K, Mathier M, MacGowan GA, Murali S, Feldman AM, London B. Effect of the Asp298 variant of endothelial nitric oxide synthase on survival for patients with congestive heart failure. Circulation 2003, 107(2), 1598-1602.
• McNamara DM, Holubkov R, Postava L, Janosko K, MacGowan GA, Mathier M, Murali S, Feldman AM, London B. Pharmacogenetic interactions between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy and the angiotensin-converting enzyme deletion polymorphism in patients with congestive heart failure. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2004, 44(10), 2019-2026.
• Du C, MacGowan GA, Farkas DL, Koretsky AP. Calibration of the calcium dissociation constant of Rhod(2)in the perfused mouse heart using manganese quenching. Cell Calcium 2001, 29(4), 217-227.
• Du C, MacGowan GA, Farkas DL, Koretsky AP. Calcium measurements in perfused mouse heart: quantitating fluorescence and absorbance of Rhod-2 by application of photon migration theory. Biophysical Journal 2001, 80(1), 549-561.
• Pohwani AL, Murali S, Mathier MM, Tokarczyk T, Kormos RL, McNamara DM, MacGowan GA. Impact of beta-blocker therapy on functional capacity criteria for heart transplant listing. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 2003, 22(1), 78-86.
• MacGowan GA. What is the in vivo mechanism of action of levosimendan? [1]. Journal of Cardiac Failure 2005, 11(6), 482.
• MacGowan GA. The myofilament force-calcium relationship as a target for positive inotropic therapy in congestive heart failure. Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy 2005, 19(3), 203-210.
• MacGowan GA, Koretsky AP. Inotropic and energetic effects of altering the force-calcium relationship: mechanisms, experimental results, and potential molecular targets. Journal of Cardiac Failure 2000, 6(2), 144-156.
• MacGowan GA, Du C, Glonty V, Suhan JP, Koretsky AP, Farkas DL. Rhod-2 based measurements of intracellular calcium in the perfused mouse heart: cellular and subcellular localization and response to positive inotropy. Journal of Biomedical Optics 2001, 6(1), 23.
• McNamara DM, Holubkov R, Janosko K, Palmer A, Wang JJ, MacGowan GA, Murali S, Rosenblum WD, London B, Feldman AM. Pharmacogenetic Interactions Between β-Blocker Therapy and the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Deletion Polymorphism in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure. Circulation 2001, 103(12), 1644-1648.
• MacGowan GA, Du C, Koretsky AP. High calcium and dobutamine positive inotropy in the perfused mouse heart: myofilament calcium responsiveness, energetic economy, and effects of protein kinase C inhibition. BMC Physiology 2001, 1, 12.
• Langley P, MacGowan GA, Murray A. Spatial and temporal organization of the dominant frequencies in the fibrillating heart: body surface potential mapping in a rare case of sustained human ventricular fibrillation. Europace 2009, 11(3), 324-327.
• Hallsworth K, Hollingsworth KG, Thoma C, Jakovljevic DG, MacGowan GA, Anstee QM, Taylor R, Day CP, Trenell MI. Cardiac structure and function are altered in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Journal of Hepatology 2013, (epub ahead of print).
• Bates MG, Hollingsworth KG, Newman J, Jakovljevic DG, Blamire AM, MacGowan GA, Keavney BD, Chinnery PF, Turnbull DM, Taylor RW, Trenell MI, Gorman GS. Concentric hypertrophic remodeling and subendocardial dysfunction in mitochondrial DNA point mutation carriers. European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging 2013, (epub ahead of print).
• McDiarmid A, Gordon B, Wrightson N, Robinson-Smith N, Pillay T, Parry G, Schueler S, MacGowan GA. Hemodynamic, Echocardiographic, and Exercise-Related Effects of the HeartWare Left Ventricular Assist Device in Advanced Heart Failure. Congestive Heart Failure 2013, 19(1), 11-15.
• Greally E, Davison BJ, Blain A, Laval S, Blamire A, Straub V, MacGowan GA. Heterogeneous abnormalities of in-vivo left ventricular calcium influx and function in mouse models of muscular dystrophy cardiomyopathy. Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 2013, 15, 4.
• Blain A, Greally E, Laval S, Blamire A, MacGowan G, Straub V. Animal Models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, with Special Reference to the mdx Mouse. Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering 2012, 32(4), 3-15.
• Blain A, Greally E, Laval S, Blamire A, Straub V, MacGowan GA. Beta-Blockers, Left and Right Ventricular Function, and In-Vivo Calcium Influx in Muscular Dystrophy Cardiomyopathy. PLoS One 2013, 8(2), e57260.
• MacGowan GA, Parry G, Hasan A, Schueler S. Ventricular assist devices for advanced heart failure: evidence that cannot be ignored. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 2013, (epub ahead of print).