Nicholas’ research involves the imaging of atherosclerosis, the hardening of arteries due to the build-up of cholesterol. Atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries – the main blood supply to the brain – is a major cause of stroke, where damage to the lining of the blood vessel causes blood clots to form that subsequently break off and block downstream blood vessels within the brain. By using specialist imaging techniques – positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – Nicholas’ research is able to identify areas of atherosclerosis that are at a high-risk of causing stroke. This work has also illustrated how disease in the arteries – in particular inflammation – may be associated with chronic changes in the brain that are associated with vascular dementia. His current work explores this link further, as well as evaluating new treatments to treat atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of stroke.
Nicholas’ clinical research also considers the role of clinical frailty – the loss of physiological reserve – on outcomes after stroke, and how vascular ageing influences this.
He is also active in medical education research; investigating the dual role experienced by medical educators who are also doctors in training, and how this influences their own professional development. He also has interests in the use of simulation-based education and the association between selection metrics and subsequent performance in medical education.
Nicholas has spoken regularly on stroke and cerebrovascular disease at the Cambridge Science Festival and Festival of Ideas, and has spoken about his work in national print and television interviews.
Nicholas’ research has been recognised by awards from the Royal College of Physicians (Quincentennial Lectureship), Royal Society of Medicine (Harvey Prize for Vascular Medicine, Cardiovascular Section President’s Prize), British Atherosclerosis Society (Binks Young Investigator Award), British Association of Stroke Physicians (Warlow Prize), and prizes from the Wellcome Trust, British Heart Foundation, and European Stroke Organisation.
