Neil Herring

Professor Neil Herring is a distinguished academic and clinician at the University of Oxford, holding the position of Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine. He serves as a Tutorial Fellow in Medical Science at Exeter College and is a Consultant Cardiologist at the Oxford Heart Centre of the John Radcliffe Hospital. His clinical expertise focuses on cardiac pacing and rhythm management devices, while his academic work centers on understanding the autonomic nervous system's role in cardiac function and disease. Professor Herring leads the Herring Research Group within the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics.

Education:

• PhD (DPhil) from University of Oxford
• Medical degree from University of Oxford
• Medical training in Bath, Northampton, London and Oxford as a Clinical Lecturer

Professor Herring's research focuses on the intricate relationship between the autonomic nervous system and cardiac function. His work challenges traditional views by demonstrating that cardiac nerves are not 'hard wired' but are significantly influenced by local chemical modulators including nitric oxide, neuropeptide Y, galanin, CNP, angiotensin II, and BNP. This research has important implications for understanding and treating cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and myocardial infarction. His laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach spanning molecular techniques, cellular imaging, organ-level physiology, and clinical phenotyping to translate basic science discoveries into potential clinical applications.

Professor Herring's recent publications (2019-2025) demonstrate a consistent focus on neurocardiology and the role of neuromodulators in cardiovascular disease. A significant thread throughout his work examines neuropeptide Y as a biomarker and therapeutic target in heart failure and myocardial infarction. His research has evolved to include metabolic aspects of heart failure and innovative approaches to arrhythmia prevention. The growing emphasis on translational applications is evident in his more recent work, which increasingly addresses clinical implementation of neurocardiac concepts.

Scientific Awards:

• 2023 Bayliss-Starling prize from the Physiological Society
• British Heart Foundation Intermediate Clinical Research Fellowship (2015)
• British Heart Foundation Senior Clinical Research Fellowship (2021)
• Recognition of Distinction (2023)

As an educator, Professor Herring serves as Director of Studies for Preclinical Medicine at Exeter College and College Lecturer in Medicine at Merton College. He teaches across multiple courses in the Oxford medical curriculum, from first-year Physiology to clinical medicine courses. His research is primarily funded through his British Heart Foundation Senior Fellowship, which supports his investigations into autonomic control of the heart. Professor Herring actively mentors postdoctoral researchers and encourages applications from potential PhD students interested in cardiovascular research.

Professor Herring leads the Herring Research Group within the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at Oxford. His team includes Associate Professor Dan Li, Postdoctoral Research Scientists Thamali Ayagama and Kun Liu, and BHF clinical research fellow Benjamin Bussmann. The group employs a comprehensive suite of experimental techniques ranging from molecular biology (qPCR, Western blotting) to cellular imaging, in-vitro heart preparations, and clinical phenotyping. Their work bridges basic science discoveries with clinical applications in cardiovascular medicine.