DrBlerina Ahmetaj-Shala

Dr Blerina Ahmetaj‑Shala is an Honorary Associate Professor and MRC New Investigator at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine. She is based at King’s College London, where she leads an interdisciplinary research group focused on pharmacology in vascular and metabolic diseases.

Her research uses innovative 2D and 3D heterogeneous cell co‑culture models, including blood‑derived vascular cells, to investigate mechanisms underlying cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Blood vessels are essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, and vascular dysfunction is a key driver of many chronic diseases. Dr Ahmetaj‑Shala’s work has demonstrated the value of human blood outgrowth vascular cells as a non‑invasive model for studying vascular function, with strong potential for regenerative medicine applications.

Dr Ahmetaj‑Shala holds a PhD, MSc, BSc, and a Master’s in Education (MEd). In 2023, she was awarded an MRC New Investigator Research Grant, in collaboration with the National Heart and Lung Institute and the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, to investigate the effects of statin use and type 1 diabetes on vascular cells.

Her research has been supported by major funders, including the British Heart Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and Medical Research Council. She has received several awards recognising excellence in research and leadership, including the British Pharmacological Society Bülbring Award, the British Physiological Society Pfizer Prize, and the Imperial College London Value in People Award.