A renowned cardiologist from Keele University has been named as one of the “Nation’s Lifesavers” in recognition of his excellent contributions to advancing healthcare.

As part of Universities UK’s Made at Uni campaign, Professor Mamas Mamas from Keele’s Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences has been named on the prestigious list of 100 ‘Health Pioneers’ - individuals who are championing innovative medical treatments and procedures in the UK.

Professor Mamas has implemented innovative cardiology procedures that are currently being performed around the world. Recent advancements led by Professor Mamas and his colleagues at Keele and University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Trust include techniques for sheathless Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), a nonsurgical procedure that improves blood flow to the heart, as well as analysis of national and international datasets of electronic healthcare records of up to six million patients to inform best practices for patients undergoing such procedures.

His research which found better patient outcomes when PCI procedures were undertaken through the patient’s wrist rather than their groin also saves the NHS an estimated £20 million a year by reducing complications and aftercare costs, and avoiding immobilisation of patients.

Professor Mamas has also published more than 300 research papers to date, including those on the use of electronic healthcare data to improve clinical care of patients with cardiovascular disease; as well as the use of social media for training and research. Professor Mamas and his team have also developed a new national model to predict the risk of complications in patients undergoing complex heart valve procedures.

Professor Mamas said: “This recognition represents the hard work of many people spanning over a decade in a close partnership between the University of Keele and our partner the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust. Our work at the Centre for Prognosis Research shows how research using such routinely collected electronic healthcare data in patients with cardiovascular disease can have a real impact on patient outcomes, and change the way we practice interventional cardiology.”

Professor Dame Janet Beer, President of Universities UK, said: “When people think of lifesavers they tend to focus on the dedication and skill of our doctors, nurses, carers, and paramedics – many of whom are trained at universities.

“Every day, up and down the country, universities are also working on innovations to transform and save lives. Research taking place in universities is finding solutions to so many of the health and wellbeing issues we care about and the causes that matter.