Dr Karina V Bunting PhD MSc BSc

• PhD in cardiovascular sciences, University of Birmingham, 2020
• Clinical scientist, Health and Care Professions Council, 2019-present
• Member, European Society of Cardiology Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions, 2019-present
• Accreditation in transthoracic echocardiography, British Society of Echocardiography, 2016
• Completion of NHS Scientist Training Programme, National School of Healthcare Science, 2016
• MSc Cardiac Clinical Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2016
• Member of the British Society of Echocardiography, 2015-present
• Diploma in electrocardiography, Society of Cardiological Science and Technology, 2014
• BSc in Medical Physiology, University of Leicester, 2013

Dr Karina Bunting initially developed an interest in cardiovascular science when undertaking a British Physiology Society funded summer studentship, while completing her BSc in Medical Physiology at the University of Leicester (2013). Wishing to pursue this in a clinical setting, she was accepted on to the NHS Scientist Training programme and undertook her training at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and MSc in cardiac clinical science at Manchester Metropolitan University, to become a cardiac physiologist (clinical scientist) in 2016.

In 2016, she enrolled in an NIHR funded PhD at the University of Birmingham, and took on the role as the research fellow for the RATE-AF trial under the supervision of Professor Dipak Kotecha and Professor Richard Steeds.  During her PhD she developed a more reproducible method of measuring heart function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) called the index-beat method. Through her work on reproducibility she became a member of the British Society of Echocardiography Clinical Standard’s Committee and advised on the Echocardiography Quality Framework.  Her involvement in the Beta-blockers in Heart Failure Collaborative Group developed her skills in systematic reviews and meta-analysis and she continues to lead other systematic reviews including a Cochrane Review.  She has continued her collaborations with the data scientists within Midland Health Data Research-UK and is now the co-ordinator for the cardAIc study at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust.  Dr Bunting is also helping to coordinate the STEEER-AF trial, providing her with unique experience in the practicalities of setting up a multi-centre study, and a cluster randomised trial.

In 2021 she was awarded a British Heart Foundation career development fellowship, to continue her work on improving the assessment of heart function in patients with AF, and develop the skills to lead future studies to benefit patients with AF and heart failure.

Echocardiography teaching (clinical)

• Supervision of MPharm students

Dr Bunting’s research focusses on improving the assessment of heart function in patients with atrial fibrillation through:

• Developing more reproducible techniques
• Improving cut-off values for detection of systolic and diastolic dysfunction
• Multi-modality validation of measurements of systolic and diastolic dysfunction
• Applying artificial intelligence approaches for measurements of heart function

Dr Bunting is also involved in several projects to improve the management of patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure:

• Effect of Digoxin vs Bisoprolol for Heart Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation on Patient-Reported Quality of Life: The RATE-AF Randomized Clinical Trial
• Applying machine learning and cluster analysis to better define response to beta-blockers in patients with atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm
• STEEER-AF: a cluster-randomized education trial from the ESC: The STEEER-AF trial is designed by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) to see if better education for healthcare professionals can improve how patients are treated and how AF is managed
• Application of artificial intelligence to routine healthcare data to benefit patients with cardiovascular disease
• Systematic reviews and meta-analysis of treatments for heart failure and atrial fibrillation
• Importance of Patient and public involvement

Research groups and centres

• Application of artificial intelligence to routine healthcare data to benefit patients with cardiovascular disease (cardAIc) group
• Heart failure and arrhythmias group

• Member of the Clinical Standards committee for the British Society of Echocardiography
• Highly specialised cardiac physiologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust