Consultant Cardiologist (Coronary Intervention)
I trained at UCL and was originally at West Hertfordshire as a medical student. I did my medical and cardiology training in East of England culminating in most of my experience at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge.
2008
Gunawardena TD, Corballis N, Merinopoulos I, Wickramarachchi U, Reinhold J, Maart C, Sreekumar S, Sawh C, Wistow T, Sarev T, Ryding A, Gilbert TJ, Clark A, Vassiliou VS, Eccleshall S. Drug-Coated Balloon vs. Drug-Eluting Stents for De Novo Unprotected Left Main Stem Disease: The SPARTAN-LMS Study. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2023 Feb 16;10(2):84.
Gunawardena T, Corballis N, Merinopoulos I, Tsampasian V, Reinhold J, Eccleshall S, Vassiliou VS. Acute Vessel Closure or Major Adverse Cardiac Events of Drug-Coated Balloons and Stents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. BioMed 2022, 2,442–451.
Merinopoulos I, Bhalraam U, Holmes T, Tsampasian V, Corballis N, Gunawardena T, Sawh C, Maart C, Wistow T, Ryding A, Eccleshall SC, Smith J, Vassiliou VS. Circulating intermediate monocytes CD14++CD16+ are increased after elective percutaneous coronary intervention. PLoS One. 2023 Dec 14;18(12):e0294746. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294746. PMID: 38096193; PMCID: PMC10721025.
Merinopoulos I, Gunawardena T, Corballis N, Tsampasian V, Vassiliou V, Eccleshall S, Ryding A, Xydopoulos G. Cost effectiveness analysis of drug coated balloon only angioplasty for de novo coronary artery disease. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2023 Nov;102(6):987-996. doi: 10.1002/ccd.30878. Epub 2023 Nov 5. PMID: 37925618.
Merinopoulos I, Gunawardena T, Corballis N, Bhalraam U, Reinhold J, Wickramarachchi U, Maart C, Gilbert T, Richardson P, Sulfi S, Sarev T, Sawh C, Wistow T, Ryding A, Mohamed MO, Perperoglou A, Mamas MA, Vassiliou VS, Eccleshall SC. Assessment of Paclitaxel Drug-Coated Balloon Only Angioplasty in STEMI. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2023 Apr 10;16(7):771-779. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2023.01.380. PMID: 37045498.
Corballis N, Tsampasian V, Merinopoulis I, Gunawardena T, Bhalraam U, Eccleshall S, Dweck MR, Vassiliou V. CT angiography compared to invasive angiography for stable coronary disease as predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events- A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart Lung. 2023 Jan-Feb; 57:207-213.
Merinopoulos I, Gunawardena T, Corballis N, Bhalraam U, Gilbert T, Maart C, Richardson P, Ryding A, Sarev T, Sawh C, Sulfi S, Wickramarachchi U, Wistow T, Mohamed MO, Mamas MA, Vassiliou VS, Eccleshall SC. Paclitaxel drug-coated balloon-only angioplasty for de novo coronary artery disease in elective clinical practice. Clin Res Cardiol. 2022 Sep 14.
Merinopoulos I, Gunawardena T, Corballis N, Tsampasian V, Eccleshall SC, Smith J, Vassiliou VS. The role of inflammation in percutaneous coronary intervention, from balloon angioplasty to drug eluting stents. Minerva Cardiol Angiol. 2022 Jul 5
Gunawardena T, Merinopoulos I, Wickramarachchi U, Vassiliou V, Eccleshall S. Endothelial Dysfunction and Coronary Vasoreactivity - A Review of the History, Physiology, Diagnostic Techniques, and Clinical Relevance. Curr Cardiol Rev. 2021; 17(1):85-100.
Corballis NH, Paddock S, Gunawardena T, Merinopoulos I, Vassiliou VS, Eccleshall SC. Drug coated balloons for coronary artery bifurcation lesions: A systematic review and focused meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2021 Jul 9;16(7)
Merinopoulos I, Gunawardena T, Wickramarachchi U, Richardson P, Maart C, Sreekumar S, Sawh C, Wistow T, Sarev T, Ryding A, Gilbert T, Perperoglou A, Vassiliou VS, Eccleshall SC. Long-term safety of paclitaxel drug-coated balloon-only angioplasty for de novo coronary artery disease: the SPARTAN DCB study. Clin Res Cardiol. 2021 Feb; 110(2):220-227.
Merinopoulos I, Gunawardena T, Stirrat C, Cameron D, Eccleshall SC, Dweck MR, Newby DE, Vassiliou VS. Diagnostic Applications of Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Particles of Iron Oxide for Imaging Myocardial and Vascular Inflammation. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2020 Aug 24
Merinopoulos I, Wickramarachchi U, Wardley J, Khanna V, Gunawardena T, Maart C, Vassiliou VS, Eccleshall SC. Day case discharge of patients treated with drug coated balloon only angioplasty for de novo coronary artery disease: A single center experience. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2020 Jan;95(1):105-108
Merinopoulos I,?Gunawardena T,?Eccleshall SC,?Vassiliou VS. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance: Stressing the future. World J Cardiol. 2019 Aug 26;11(8):195-199.
Merinopoulos I, Gunawardena T, Wickramarachchi U, Ryding A, Eccleshall S, Vassiliou VS. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Elderly: Are Drug-coated Balloons the Future? Curr Cardiol Rev. 2018; 14; 14(1):45-52
Merinopoulos I, Gunawardena T, Wickramarachchi U, Ryding A, Eccleshall S, Vassiliou VS. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Elderly: Are Drug-coated Balloons the Future? Curr Cardiol Rev. 2018 Mar 14;14(1):45-52
Cardiac Devices for the General Physician: Gunawardena T, Razvi N, Alam S. General Medicine Journal, 2017
I have also been a contributing author to the BMJ several times on various career related topics including tips and strategies on managing night shifts, contributing to an article on the use of the “Dr” title and am due to have an article produced discussing balancing hobbies (jujitsu) with work in maintaining a good life balance. My presentation on the insights of an interventional registrar at BCIS ACI 2022 was very well received with some very positive feedback. I am also proud to have had my comments on heart health featured in The Guardian.