Haemostasis and Thrombosis

Director: Professor Gordon Lowe, DSc, MD, FRCP, FFPH

The Unit was established in 1957 by Professor Stuart Douglas, to perform laboratory and clinical research in cardiovascular disease, thrombosis and bleeding disorders.  Under Professor Lowe’s direction since 1987, recent research has focussed on the contributions of haemostatic, thrombotic and inflammatory factors to arterial disease (coronary, stroke and peripheral) and venous thromboembolism.  Laboratory studies of these factors (with Dr. Ann Rumley) in epidemiological and clinical studies and systematic reviews have established reliably their associations with disease in the general population, mechanisms for risk factors such as hormone therapy, and potential roles in prevention.   Clinical trials of new risk predictors and new treatments for thrombosis (with Professor Isobel Walker and Dr Campbell Tait) have helped develop evidence-based management.   Since 1988, Professor Lowe has promoted evidence-based clinical guidelines internationally and nationally: in Scotland since 1993 through the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) which he chaired between 2002 and 2007.