Abstract

There are established links between cardiovascular disease and viral infections, whether seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus or COVID -19 and HIV , but these diseases are rarely studied together, largely due to silos in science, evidence and care. There are many applications of better knowledge of these links, including observational epidemiology and novel treatments. Electronic health records at national level are enabling both descriptive and interventional studies in this area and are already informing clinical care.

Bio: Amitava Banerjee is a professor of Clinical Data Science at University College London, and an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at University College London Hospitals and Barts Health NHS Trusts. He is a researcher, educator and clinician with interests spanning data science, cardiovascular disease, global health, training and evidence-based healthcare, and, more recently, risk associated with underlying chronic diseases and long COVID .

A graduate of Oxford Medical School, he holds a Master’s in Public Health from Harvard, a DPhil in epidemiology from the University of Oxford which led to an internship at the World Health Organization in the Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion. He has also served as an advisor to several national and global organisations, including NHS England, the World Heart Federation and Global Burden of Disease Study.

Though sub-specialised in heart failure, he maintains a broad clinical practice in acute general cardiology with a particular interest in the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation. His work continues to shape how data informs patient outcomes, health equity and policy. He is NIHR National Specialty Lead for Cardiovascular Disease for the Research Delivery Network (RDN), and he is a Board member of the World Heart Federation, and a Strategic Advisory Committee member at the British Heart Foundation.