(CAVIAR) is a collaboration of experts and centers involved in Patient

The UCL center for CardioVascular Interventional Research (CAVIAR) is a collaboration of experts
and centers involved in Patient Blood Management (PBM). The main project; PREVENTT
(Preoperative intravenous iron to treat anaemia in major surgery) is a phase III clinical multicentre
randomised controlled trial based in the UK. Mechanistic research trials on iron therapy to improve
fitness are concurrently being run in patients prior to surgery (Joint UCH Marsden project) and also
women’s health (joint UCL, St Marys institute of sport).
CAVIAR has a strong track record with over 79 publications, a dozen PhD’s, and 29 BSc’s in the
last 5 years. Currently PhD students lead the key research projects detailed above overseen by
internationally recognized experts in Patient Blood Management. Strong collaborations exist within
the UK, Europe and Australia.
CAVIAR has recently gained funding for a mechanistic trial of iron therapy for anaemic patients in
Cardiac and Vascular Surgery.
The research will look at the methods to identify and define
patients whom are most likely to respond to intravenous iron therapy, further to quantify ‘fitness’
response to intravenous iron by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and 6mwt. The research will be
based at UCL and coordinated to four UK centers (RFH, Papworth, Cardiff, Bristol).
We are looking for enthusiastic individual to join the team at CAVIAR. While focused on a welldefined project you will be part of a larger team, integral working with established PhD researchers
and overarching leadership by experts in PBM. UCL will offer opportunity to maximize their training
in research skills and develop key clinical trial skills. Funding is available either as one year
fellowship or can be extended to a formal UCL based Impact PhD*. This project will also offer
interest to an individual who wished their project based in London, Bristol, Papworth or Cardiff
(only one center at a time!).
Opportunities will be available to attend and present at major clinical meetings. Similar
opportunities exist to participate and develop international collaborations. The key aspects will be
the development of translational skills that will be of use to the future expert in the field.
Please contact the Chief Investigators,
Toby Richards at toby.richards@ucl.ac.uk and Andrew Klein at andrew.klein@nhs.net
*PhD students; will participate, run and develop this clinical trial with development of translational
research to identify mechanism of response to IV iron in the perioperative setting. Also to
participate in ongoing collaborations (inc. PREVENTT), as well as participate in to aid and develop
parallel clinical and translational trials into PBM (IRONMAN, IRON NOF and others)
This project was funded by the National
Institute for Health Research Health
Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA)
Programme (project number 10/57/67).