Cheriyan Group · Cambridge University Hospitals · University of Cambridge

Dr Joseph Cheriyan — Cambridge Clinical Research Group

Dr Joseph Cheriyan (MBChB, MA, FRCP, FESC, FACC) leads a clinical research group at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge. The group evaluates novel and repurposed therapeutics in humans — from first-in-human safety through Phase I/II proof-of-efficacy trials — with a particular focus on cardiovascular medicine (hypertension, heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, dyslipidaemia and vascular inflammation) and respiratory medicine (COPD, COVID-19).

The group's AI, digital-biomarker and technology-enabled trial work is delivered through IGNITE — Innovative Group for Novel Interventions, Trials & Experimental Medicine, its Cambridge programme applying artificial intelligence, wearable sensors and adaptive trial methodologies to cardiovascular disease detection, monitoring and treatment.

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Cheriyan Group

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS · UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

CAPABILITY & INFRASTRUCTURE

Research Procedures

A validated portfolio of vascular, haemodynamic and autonomic assessments delivered under Good Clinical Practice at Cambridge — supporting mechanistic Phase 1/2 trials, device validation and translational discovery.

Overview

The Cheriyan Group operates a comprehensive suite of research procedures spanning endothelial function, blood pressure phenotyping, vascular structure, and autonomic assessment. All procedures are performed by trained investigators using calibrated, research-grade equipment, with standardised protocols suitable for regulatory submissions and multi-centre studies.

Category 01

Endothelial Function

Gold-standard and complementary techniques to interrogate nitric-oxide bioavailability, arterial wall behaviour and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation — the earliest measurable signs of vascular disease.

A supine participant with both forearms outstretched on padded supports, showing bilateral wrist BP cuffs, upper-arm occlusion cuffs and mercury-in-silastic strain gauges used for venous-occlusion forearm plethysmography. — Bilateral forearm plethysmography setup

Close-up of an antecubital fossa showing a fine 27-gauge brachial-artery cannula secured with sterile tape for continuous intra-arterial infusion of vasoactive study drugs. — Fine brachial-artery cannula for intra-arterial infusion

Forearm Plethysmography

Venous-occlusion strain-gauge plethysmography for brachial-artery infusion studies of endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators.

Arterial (Aortic) Stiffness

Pulse wave analysis and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (SphygmoCor / Vicorder) as validated markers of central arterial stiffness and wave reflection.

A participant’s arm supported on a foam wedge with a red upper-arm cuff inflated to suprasystolic pressure and a stereotactic-mounted linear ultrasound probe imaging the brachial artery during a flow-mediated dilatation measurement.

Flow-Mediated Dilatation

High-resolution brachial-artery ultrasound with automated edge-detection to quantify endothelium-dependent, NO-mediated vasodilatation.

Category 02

Blood Pressure

Multi-modal, protocol-driven blood-pressure phenotyping for hypertension trials, device validation and clinical research — aligned with ESH, AHA and ISO 81060-2 recommendations.

Attended BP

Standardised clinic BP measurement under trained observation, following ESH/AHA positioning, cuff sizing and rest protocols.

Unattended BP

Automated office BP (AOBP) with the participant seated alone, avoiding white-coat effect — the SPRINT-style research standard.

24-hour BP monitoring

Ambulatory BP monitoring across day and night periods, with dipping analysis, morning surge and BP variability.

Cuffless BP validation

Head-to-head validation of wearable, optical and PPG-based cuffless BP devices against reference standards, in line with ISO 81060-3 / IEEE 1708.

Category 03

Vascular Structure & Function

Deep phenotyping of the peripheral and carotid vasculature — combining classical pharmacology with modern imaging.

Hand Vein technique (Aellig)

Dorsal hand vein compliance technique (Aellig) for local, first-in-human pharmacology of venoconstrictor and venodilator agents.

Carotid IMT

B-mode ultrasound of the common carotid artery with semi-automated intima-media thickness measurement, an accepted surrogate for atherosclerotic burden.

Category 04

Autonomic Function

Non-invasive quantification of cardiac autonomic control — informing arrhythmia, heart-failure and metabolic-disease research.

Heart Rate Variability

Time-domain, frequency-domain and non-linear HRV analysis from short- and long-term ECG recordings, following the Task Force of the ESC/NASPE standards.

Cloud-based real-time Holter monitoring

Continuous ambulatory ECG capture with real-time, cloud-based waveform review — enabling remote rhythm surveillance, rapid arrhythmia adjudication and low-friction integration into decentralised trials.

Enquiries

Incorporate Research Procedures into your protocol

For sponsor, CRO or academic enquiries about incorporating Research Procedures into your protocol, please contact the Cambridge team.