Staff profile

Ashraf W Khir has carried out his PhD work (1996-2000) with Prof Kim H Parker in the Deartment of Bioengineering at Imperial College London and his Thesis dealt with the effect of aortic occlusion on the hemodynamics in the ascending aorta and left ventricular performance. The In Vivo experiments were carried out in the late Prof John V Tyberg's laboratory at Calgary Medical Centre and the Human data were collected at the Derek Gibson Echocardiography Department at the Royal Brompton Hospital. Ashraf then carried a 3 years (2000-2003) postdoctoral fellowship at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), with Prof John R Pepper, studying the mechanics of the Intra aortic Balloon Pump (IABP).

Ashraf then obtained his first tenure post as a lecturer at Brunel University London in 2003, and remained there for 18 years, during which he was promoted to Chair in Cardiovascular Mechanics in 2016 and was the Biomedical Engineering Theme Leader. In January 2022, Ashraf moved to Durham University as the Bioengineering Node Leader and his research is generally in the area of arterial and cardiac (cardiovascular) mechanics.

• I work broadly in the fields of cardiovascular mechanics, with particular interest in the physiological fluid mechanics and ventricular assist devices (VADs). My academic research is linked to two clinical pathologies: hypertension and heart failure.
• I have special interest in the following topics:
• - Noninvasive determination of hemodynamic parameters
• - In vitro testing and mock circulatory loops
• - Characterisation of wave reflections
• - Rotary and pulsatile blood pumps
• - Estimation of arterial wave speed
• - Intra Aortic balloon pump (IABP)
• - Arterial wave propagation
• - Arterial wall mechanics
• - Wave intensity analysis
• - Air flow in lungs

• 0000: Board membership: Governing board member of the European Society for Artificial Organs (ESAO, 2010 – 2016)
• 0000: Editorship:: 1) Associate Editor, Journal of Engineering in Medicine (2019 - todate)

  2) Co-Editor ‘Artificial Organs’ Journal (2013 – to date).

• 0000: External Examiner: External Examiner MSc Biomedical Engineering, City University (2015 – 2019)
• 0000: Fellowship: Fellow FIPEM (2016 to date)

  Fellow IMechE (2018 - to date)

Conference Paper

• Loza, Malena, Khir, Ashraf W. & Sanchez, Alberto (2019), Measuring Regional Wave Speed using a Low Cost Portable Device, 2019 IEEE CHILEAN CONFERENCE ON ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (CHILECON) IEEE Consejo Cono Sur; IEEE Consejo Chile; Chilean Assoc Automat Control; IEEE Chilean Chapter ontrol Syst; IEEE Chilean Chapter SMC. 345 E 47TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10017 USA, IEEE.
• Giudici, Alessandro, Hacham, Wisam & Khir, Ashraf W. (2018), Theoretical and Experimental Reflection Coefficients in Flexible Tubes as a Function of the Mach Number, Computing in Cardiology Conference 45: 2018 COMPUTING IN CARDIOLOGY CONFERENCE (CINC). 345 E 47TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10017 USA, IEEE.
• Abdullateef, Shima, Mariscal-Harana, Jorge, Alastruey, Jordi & Khir, Ashraf W. (2018), A Study on the Characteristics Influencing the Pressure at the Root of a Distributed One-Dimensional Model of Arterial Blood Flow, Computing in Cardiology Conference 45: 2018 COMPUTING IN CARDIOLOGY CONFERENCE (CINC). 345 E 47TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10017 USA, IEEE.
• Negoita, Madalina, Abdullateef, Shima, Hughes, Alun D., Parker, Kim H. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2018), Semi-automatic Vendor-Independent Software for Assessment of Local Arterial Stiffness, Computing in Cardiology Conference 45: 2018 COMPUTING IN CARDIOLOGY CONFERENCE (CINC). 345 E 47TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10017 USA, IEEE.
• Negoita, Madalina, Hughes, Alun D., Parker, Kim H. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2017), Non-invasive Technique for Determining Local Pulse Wave Velocity in Humans Ascending Aorta, Computing in Cardiology Conference 44: 2017 COMPUTING IN CARDIOLOGY (CINC). 10662 LOS VAQUEROS CIRCLE, PO BOX 3014, LOS ALAMITOS, CA 90720-1264 USA, IEEE COMPUTER SOC.
• Pomella, Nicola, Rakobowchuk, Mark, Kolyva, Christina & Khir, Ashraf W. (2016), Changes in Non-Invasive Wave Intensity Parameters with Variations of Savitzky-Golay Filter Settings, in Murray, A eds, Computing in Cardiology Conference 43: 2016 COMPUTING IN CARDIOLOGY CONFERENCE (CINC), VOL 43. 345 E 47TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10017 USA, IEEE, 1041-1044.

Journal Article

• Abdullateef, Shima & Khir, Ashraf W. (2023). The contribution of upper and lower body arterial vessels to the aortic root reflections: A one-dimensional computational study. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine 238: 107598.
• Giudici, A., Spronck, B., Wilkinson, I.B. & Khir, A.W. (2023). Tri-layered constitutive modelling unveils functional differences between the pig ascending and lower thoracic aorta. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 141: 105752.
• Giudici, Alessandro, Li, Ye, Yasmin, Cleary, Sarah, Connolly, Kathleen, McEniery, Carmel, Wilkinson, Ian B. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2022). Time-course of the human thoracic aorta ageing process assessed using uniaxial mechanical testing and constitutive modelling. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 134: 105339.
• Giudici, Alessandro, Palombo, Carlo, Kozakova, Michaela, Morizzo, Carmela, Cruickshank, J. Kennedy & Khir, Ashraf W. (2022). Subject-Specific Pressure Normalization of Local Pulse Wave Velocity: Separating Intrinsic From Acute Load-Dependent Stiffening in Hypertensive Patients. FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY 12: 783457.
• Giudici, Alessandro, Palombo, Carlo, Kozakova, Michaela, Morizzo, Carmela, Penno, Giuseppe, Jamagidze, Giuli, Della Latta, Daniele, Chiappino, Dante, Cruickshank, J. Kennedy & Khir, Ashraf W. (2021). Noninvasive carotid pressure-diameter loops to identify viscoelastic properties in ageing, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION 39(11): 2307-2317.
• Suri, Sana, Bulte, Daniel, Chiesa, Scott T., Ebmeier, Klaus P., Jezzard, Peter, Rieger, Sebastian W., Pitt, Jemma E., Griffanti, Ludovica, Okell, Thomas W., Craig, Martin, Chappell, Michael A., Blockley, Nicholas P., Kivimaki, Mika, Singh-Manoux, Archana, Khir, Ashraf W., Hughes, Alun D., Deanfield, John E., Jensen, Daria E. A., Green, Sebastian F., Sigutova, Veronika, Jansen, Michelle G., Zsoldos, Eniko & Mackay, Clare E. (2021). Study Protocol: The Heart and Brain Study. FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY 12: 643725.
• Manolesou, Danae G., Georgiopoulos, George, Lazaris, Andreas M., Schizas, Dimitrios, Stamatelopoulos, Kimon S., Khir, Ashraf W., Liakakos, Theodoros & Papaioannou, Theodore G. (2021). Experimental Devices Versus Hand-Sewn Anastomosis of the Aorta: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH 258: 200-212.
• Giudici, Alessandro, Khir, Ashraf W., Reesink, Koen D., Delhaas, Tammo & Spronck, Bart (2021). Five years of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and CAVI(0): how close are we to a pressure-independent index of arterial stiffness? JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION 39(11): 2128-2138.
• Khir, Ashraf W., Ladyzynski, Piotr & ESAO Executive Comm (2021). Against all odds. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 44(9, SI): 589.
• Giudici, Alessandro, Khir, Ashraf W., Szafron, Jason M. & Spronck, Bart (2021). From Uniaxial Testing of Isolated Layers to a Tri-Layered Arterial Wall: A Novel Constitutive Modelling Framework. ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 49(9): 2454-2467.
• Cappon, Femke, Wu, Tingting, Papaioannou, Theodore, Du, Xinli, Hsu, Po-Lin & Khir, Ashraf W. (2021). Mock circulatory loops used for testing cardiac assist devices: A review of computational and experimental models. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 44(11): 03913988211045405, 793-806.
• Giudici, Alessandro, Wilkinson, Ian B. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2021). Review of the Techniques Used for Investigating the Role Elastin and Collagen Play in Arterial Wall Mechanics. IEEE REVIEWS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 14: 256-269.
• Abdullateef, Shima, Mariscal-Harana, Jorge & Khir, Ashraf W. (2021). Impact of tapering of arterial vessels on blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, and wave intensity analysis using one-dimensional computational model. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 37(11): e3312.
• Khir, Ashraf W. & Pepper, John R. (2021). Mechanical support of the heart: Where are we heading? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 44(9, SI): 590-591.
• Li, Ye, Giudici, Alessandro, Wilkinson, Ian B. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2021). Towards the non-invasive determination of arterial wall distensible properties: New approach using old formulae. JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS 115: 110102.
• Giudici, Alessandro, Palombo, Carlo, Morizzo, Carmela, Kozakova, Michaela, Cruickshank, J. Kennedy, Wilkinson, Ian B. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2021). Transfer-function-free technique for the noninvasive determination of the human arterial pressure waveform. PHYSIOLOGICAL REPORTS 9(18): e15040.
• Esteves, Nuno Koch, Gibson, Oliver R., Khir, Ashraf W. & Gonzalez-Alonso, Jose (2021). Regional thermal hyperemia in the human leg: Evidence of the importance of thermosensitive mechanisms in the control of the peripheral circulation. PHYSIOLOGICAL REPORTS 9(15): e14953.
• Pomella, Nicola, Rietzschel, Ernst R., Segers, Patrick & Khir, Ashraf William (2020). Impact of varying diastolic pressure fitting technique for the reservoir-wave model on wave intensity analysis. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART H-JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE 234(11, SI): 0954411920959957, 1300-1311.
• Khir, Ashraf W. & Segers, Patrick (2020). Physiological fluid mechanics: A special Issue with a taster of forefront research. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART H-JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE 234(11, SI): 1183-1186.
• Wu, Tingting, Khir, Ashraf W., Kuetting, Maximilian, Du, Xinli, Lin, Hao, Zhu, Yuxin & Hsu, Po-Lin (2020). A review of implantable pulsatile blood pumps: Engineering perspectives. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 43(9): 0391398820902470, 559-569.
• Giudici, Alessandro, Palombo, Carlo, Kozakova, Michaela, Morizzo, Carmela, Losso, Lorenzo, Nannipieri, Monica, Berta, Rossana, Hughes, Alun D., Cruickshank, J. Kennedy & Khir, Ashraf W. (2020). Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery Significantly Improves Carotid and Cardiac Function in Apparently Healthy People with Morbid Obesity. OBESITY SURGERY 30(10): 3776-3783.
• Park, Chloe M., Hughes, Alun D., Henein, Michael Y. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2020). Mechanisms of Aortic Flow Deceleration and the Effect of Wave Reflection on Left Ventricular Function. FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY 11: 578701.
• Davis, J. F., Khir, A. W., Barber, L., Reeves, N. D., Khan, T., DeLuca, M. & Mohagheghi, Amir A. (2020). The mechanisms of adaptation for muscle fascicle length changes with exercise: Implications for spastic muscle. MEDICAL HYPOTHESES 144: 110199.
• Khir, Ashraf W. & Ladyzynski, Piotr (2020). Strange times - difficult decisions - hopeful future. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 43(8, SI): 505.
• Pomella, N., Rietzschel, E. R., Segers, P. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2020). Implications of Changing the Asymptotic Diastolic Pressure in the Reservoir-wave Model on Wave Intensity Parameters: A Parametric Study. ARTERY RESEARCH 26(4): 228-235.
• Chiesa, Scott T., Masi, Stefano, Shipley, Martin J., Ellins, Elizabeth, Halcox, Julian P., Fraser, Alan, Hughes, Alun D., Patel, Riyaz S., Khir, Ashraf W., Brunner, Eric J., Singh-Manoux, Archana, Kivimaki, Mika, Celermajer, David & Deanfield, John E. (2019). Accelerated Aortic Stiffening Relative to Carotid Stiffness is Associated With Cognitive Decline: The Whitehall II Study. CIRCULATION 140(1).
• Giudici, A., Palombo, C., Morizzo, C., Danieli, N., Losso, L., Della Latta, D., Kozakova, M., Chiappino, D., Cruickshank, J. K. & Khir, A. W. (2019). EVALUATING CAROTID ARTERY DYNAMICS USING PRESSURE/DIAMETER WAVEFORMS TO DETERMINE STIFFNESS AND VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES. JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION 37(1): E60-E61.
• Hacham, Wisam S. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2019). The speed, reflection and intensity of waves propagating in flexible tubes with aneurysm and stenosis: Experimental investigation. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART H-JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE 233(10): 979-988.
• Li, Ye, Hickson, Stacey S., McEniery, Carmel M., Wilkinson, Ian B. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2019). Stiffening and ventricular-arterial interaction in the ascending aorta using MRI: ageing effects in healthy humans. JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION 37(2): 347-355.
• Chiesa, Scott T., Masi, Stefano, Shipley, Martin J., Ellins, Elizabeth A., Fraser, Alan G., Hughes, Alun D., Patel, Riyaz S., Khir, Ashraf W., Halcox, Julian P., Singh-Manoux, Archana, Kivimaki, Mika, Celermajer, David S. & Deanfield, John E. (2019). Carotid artery wave intensity in mid- to late-life predicts cognitive decline: the Whitehall II study. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL 40(28): 2300-2309.
• Pomella, N., Wilhelm, E. N., Kolyva, C., Gonzalez-Alonso, J., Rakobowchuk, M. & Khir, A. W. (2018). Noninvasive assessment of carotid arterial wave speed and distensibility Reply. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY 315(5): H1496-H1498.
• Chiesa, Scott T., Masi, Stefano, Shipley, Martin, Ellins, Elizabeth A., Fraser, Alan G., Hughes, Alun D., Khir, Ashraf W., Halcox, Julian P., Singh-Manoux, Archana, Kivimaki, Mika, Celermajer, David S. & Deanfield, John E. (2018). Carotid Artery Wave Intensity Measured in Mid- to Late-Life Predicts Future Cognitive Decline: The Whitehall II Study. CIRCULATION 138(1).
• Negoita, Madalina, Hughes, Alun D., Parker, Kim H. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2018). A method for determining local pulse wave velocity in human ascending aorta from sequential ultrasound measurements of diameter and velocity. PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT 39(11): 114009.
• Yasmin, Al Maskari, Raya, McEniery, Carmel M., Cleary, Sarah E., Li, Ye, Siew, Keith, Figg, Nichola L., Khir, Ashraf W., Cockcroft, John R., Wilkinson, Ian B. & O'Shaughnessy, Kevin M. (2018). The matrix proteins aggrecan and fibulin-1 play a key role in determining aortic stiffness. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 8: 8550.
• Pomella, N., Wilhelm, E. N., Kolyva, C., Gonzalez-Alonso, J., Rakobowchuk, M. & Khir, A. W. (2018). Noninvasive assessment of the common carotid artery hemodynamics with increasing exercise work rate using wave intensity analysis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY 315(2): H233-H241.
• Pomella, Nicola, Nestorwilhelm, Eurico, Kolyva, Christina, Gonzalez-Alonso, Jose, Rakobowchuk, Mark & Khir, Ashraf W. (2017). COMMON CAROTID ARTERY DIAMETER, BLOOD FLOW VELOCITY AND WAVE INTENSITY RESPONSES AT REST AND DURING EXERCISE IN YOUNG HEALTHY HUMANS: A REPRODUCIBILITY STUDY. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 43(5): 943-957.
• Sazonov, Igor, Khir, Ashraf W., Hacham, Wisam S., Boileau, Etienne, Carson, Jason M., van Loon, Raoul, Ferguson, Colin & Nithiarasu, Perumal (2017). A novel method for non-invasively detecting the severity and location of aortic aneurysms. BIOMECHANICS AND MODELING IN MECHANOBIOLOGY 16(4): 1225-1242.
• Papaioannou, Theodore G., Karageorgopoulou, Theofani D., Sergentanis, Theodoros N., Protogerou, Athanase D., Psaltopoulou, Theodora, Sharman, James E., Weber, Thomas, Blacher, Jacques, Daskalopoulou, Stella S., Wassertheurer, Siegfried, Khir, Ashraf W., Vlachopoulos, Charalambos, Stergiopulos, Nikolaos, Stefanadis, Christodoulos, Nichols, Wilmer W. & Tousoulis, Dimitrios (2017). Central aortic pressure calibration: ``a bridge too far''? Reply. JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION 35(4): 894-896.
• Papaioannou, Theodore G., Karageorgopoulou, Theofani D., Sergentanis, Theodoros N., Protogerou, Athanase D., Psaltopoulou, Theodora, Sharman, James E., Weber, Thomas, Blacher, Jacques, Daskalopoulou, Stella S., Wassertheurer, Siegfried, Khir, Ashraf W., Vlachopoulos, Charalambos, Stergiopulos, Nikolaos, Stefanadis, Christodoulos, Nichols, Wilmer W. & Tousoulis, Dimitrios (2016). Accuracy of commercial devices and methods for noninvasive estimation of aortic systolic blood pressure a systematic review and meta-analysis of invasive validation studies. JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION 34(7): 1237-1248.
• Kolyva, Christina, Pepper, John R. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2016). Newly Shaped Intra-Aortic Balloons Improve the Performance of Counterpulsation at the Semirecumbent Position: An In Vitro Study. ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 40(8): E146-E157.
• Li, Ye, Parker, Kim H. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2016). Using wave intensity analysis to determine local reflection coefficient in flexible tubes. JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS 49(13): 2709-2717.
• Borlotti, Alessandra, Park, Chloe, Parker, Kim H. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2015). Reservoir and reservoir-less pressure effects on arterial waves in the canine aorta. JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION 33(3): 564-574.
• Clavica, Francesco, Parker, Kim H. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2015). Wave intensity analysis in air-filled flexible vessels. JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS 48(4): 687-694.
• Kolyva, Christina, Pantalos, George M., Pepper, John R. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2015). Does conventional intra-aortic balloon pump trigger timing produce optimal hemodynamic effects in vivo? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 38(3): 146-153.
• Bruti, Gianpaolo, Kolyva, Christina, Pepper, John R. & Khir, Ashraf W. (2015). Measurements of Intra-Aortic Balloon Wall Movement During Inflation and Deflation: Effects of Angulation. ARTIFICIAL ORGANS 39(8): E154-E163.