Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences | School of Health Sciences

Dr Behnam Zal

Biomedical Sciences Lead/Senior Lecturer

Dr Zal joined St George’s Hospital Medical School in 1996 and later completed a PhD in Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease from St George’s University of London. Following graduation, he joined the Renal Clinic and Transplantation Centre & Coronary Artery Disease Research Group (St George’s University Hospitals NHS Trust) to conduct a range of clinical investigations in the field of renal pathology and cardiovascular disease.

He has supervised a number of clinical research projects at MD and PhD levels and his publications include a number of high impact factor journals. Dr Zal has presented his work at national and international conferences and has won several awards in recognition of his contributions to this area of medicine.

Dr Zal has held various senior posts within the University of London and at The University of Buckingham. He is passionate about medical education and helping students to achieve their full potential. He has a track record of delivering specialist lectures as well as curriculum development and academic leadership in Medicine as well as Biomedical and Health Care Science courses.

Research Interests

Some areas of research interest include:

  • Accelerated cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic renal failure
  • Clinical benefits of vitamin D therapy in prevention of acute coronary syndromes in patients with chronic kidney disease
  • Effects of statins on the functionality of Regulatory T cells in patients with acute coronary syndromes
  • Pathologic role of CD28(-) T helper cells in chronic kidney disease patients with and without cardiovascular disease
  • Pathogenesis and management of viral persistence in end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy
  • Current immunotherapeutic approaches in the management of multiple myeloma and metastatic melanoma
  • Anti-inflammatory effects of statin therapy in patients with microvascular angina

Autoimmune mediated atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

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