Biography

Professor Mahmoud Barbir graduated in 1980 from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and did his initial training in general medicine and cardiology at St James' and Richmond Hospital in Dublin.

In 1985 he started a British Heart Foundation research fellowship at Hammersmith Hospital for two years and subsequently completed three years training in clinical cardiology.

In 1988 he worked at Harefield Hospital in clinical research under Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub and had further training in the department of cardiology until 1993 when he undertook his current consultant post. 

Areas of expertise

Professor Barbir specialises in coronary artery disease, refractory angina, hypertension, and coronary risk factor detection and management.

He is the clinical lead in lipoprotein apheresis, genetic detection of familial hypercholesterolaemia, management of lipid disorders and cardiac rehabilitation. He also has expertise in cardiac catheterisation and CT coronary angiography. 

Research interests

Professor Barbir's major research interests are in familial hypercholesterolaemia, refractory angina, hyperlipidaemias, primary and secondary prevention, CT coronary calcification and angiography. 

He is involved in research on lipid-lowering therapies; that includes lipoprotein apheresis (LDL apheresis); refractory angina and dyslipidaemia in transplant recipients.

Some of his research projects include:

• familial hypercholesterolaemia cascade study  
• cardiac rehabilitation for the treatment of refractory angina and syndrome X 
• role of computed tomography in risk assessment for coronary heart disease  
• improve-It study  
• LDL apheresis: indications and clinical experience in a tertiary centre  
• lipoprotein apheresis for refractory angina. 

Professor Barbir also organises and chairs meetings in clinical cardiology for GPs and specialist registrars. 

Teaching

Professor Barbir is lead supervisor for a PhD student and is also involved in teaching MSc students in cardiology from Imperial College. He is involved in the teaching of students from UCL and Imperial College who attend the Trust. 

He has had a number of students from overseas who had honorary clinical attachments at the Trust and welcomes overseas students who are willing to learn and expand their knowledge in the UK.

In 2012, Professor Mahmoud Barbir presented at the first international conference on familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in children and adolescents in Athens. He presented on the treatments available to patients including lipoprotein apheresis for those who do not respond to medication – the Trust is the largest of only eight UK centres that can offer this treatment.  

In 2013, Professor Barbir also presented at the sixth EU Round Table on Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Berlin and was the organiser and co-chairman of the RSM Preventative Cardiology training day for SpRs 2013. 

Publications

Professor Barbir has published more than 100 original manuscripts in medical journals, which include The Lancet, Circulation and The International Journal of Cardiology.

He has also contributed to many reviews and textbook chapters which include the following:

• hyperlipidaemia and graft atherosclerosis  
• lipids and vascular disease  
• prevention of cardiovascular disease  
• lipids in heart transplant patients 
• severe hypercholesterolaemia: therapeutic goals and eligibility criteria for LDL apheresis in Europe 
• epidemiology and risk factors for diseases of the coronary arteries 
• the role of CT in risk assessment for coronary heart disease. 

He is also a regular reviewer for the International Journal of Cardiology and Transplant Journals.

Private patient referral

If you would like an appointment with this specialist for private care, contact the RB&HH Specialist care team.