The National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) is delighted to welcome Professor Steven Niederer as Chair in Biomedical Engineering.

Professor Steven Niederer and his research group have joined the Cardiac Function Section at NHLI from King’s College London, and will be mainly based at the Hammersmith campus. Steven is head of the Cardiac Electro-Mechanics Research Group at Imperial which is a mix of clinical and basic scientists. The group applies statistical, machine learning and simulation approaches to combine experimental and clinical data with physics and biology to study the physiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of the heart.

"I am exceptionally proud that we have a very diverse and inclusive group. I think this is crucially important to generate many different ideas and creative solutions to challenging problems" Professor Steven Niederer

Professor Niederer completed his Bachelor's degree in Engineering Science at the University of Auckland, before heading to the University of Oxford for his PhD in Computer Science, the focus of which was on the development of mathematical models of the cardiovascular system. His research continues to focus on developing innovative computational models to further our understanding of cardiovascular disease and to help medical professionals make better clinical decisions.

Professor Ken MacLeod, Head of the Cardiac Function Section at NHLI, shared his thoughts on Steven's arrival "We are excited to have Steve and his group in the Cardiac Function Section because they bring numerous opportunities for insightful collaborations with our experimental researchers and clinicians. They are a multidisciplinary team of statisticians, mathematicians, modellers and image analysts building virtual replicas of the very physiological and pathophysiological processes that we are examining in vivo. This complementary approach will help identify knowledge gaps and formulate hypotheses. Their skills and computational tools enables them to integrate many pieces of data from individual patients that should, in the future, provide more quantitative insights into underlying diseases allowing more individualised treatments".

I asked Steven a few questions about his research and group. 

What is your research about?

Our research looks at how we can make computational models of patient hearts. To achieve this aim, we develop mathematical models of subcellular, cellular and organ scale physiology in humans and animals, we develop algorithms for analyzing and extracting information from medical images and electrophysiology mapping systems, and develop computational statistics methods and machine learning models for calibrating patient-specific virtual hearts and forecasting outcomes.

What achievement are you most proud of to date?

We have recently completed the first prospective clinical evaluation of a imaging and simulation lead guidance platform for determining the optimal lead placement in leadless cardiac resynchronization therapy. 

What’s next?

We would like to see modelling and simulation be a part of routine patient care.

Who inspires you?

Academically I am inspired by Peter Hunter who has lead the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, he has always had time for trainees and early career researches, he has supported many of his trainees into successful academic careers and he has pursued a collaborative and open scientific approach.

Can you tell me a little about your group?

I am exceptionally proud that we have a very diverse and inclusive group. I think this is crucially important to generate many different ideas and creative solutions to challenging problems.

Find out more about the Cardiac Function Section at NHLI