Clinical Scientists
Professor Theo Kofidis
Head of Department, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic & Vascular Surgery, NUHCS
Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic & Vascular Surgery, NUHCS
Fellow of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery
Founder and Owner, “Kardia Ptd Ltd”
Director, NUHS-Medtronic Center of Excellence and Simulation Center in Minimally Invasive and Hybrid Heart Surgery
Chairman, Initiative for Research and Innovation in Surgery (IRIS), NUS
Steering Committee World Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery
Professor, National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Founder and Director, Cardiac Surgery Research Laboratory, National University of Singapore
BIO
Professor Theo Kofidis is Head of the Department of Cardiac-, Thoracic- and Vascular Surgery, at the National University Hospital of Singapore, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, an expert minimally invasive heart surgeon and avid researcher. He is a renowned Cardiac Surgeon and strongly sought-for proctor and surgical teacher around the world. One of only very few AATS members in SE Asia, he is also an Ambassador / Steering Committee of the World Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery for the same region. He is Founder and Owner of the Company Kardia Pte Ltd, aiming at the development of disruptive heart valve- and minimally invasive heart surgery technology. He is Chairman of I.R.I.S. (Initiative for Research and Innovation in Surgery), has introduced various new technologies, and launched new types of less invasive surgery. Over the last 12 years in Singapore, he has established the most complete, pioneering and advanced Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery program in the region, and set up the most advanced hemodynamic research laboratory and Cardiovascular Surgical Research Group in Singapore, with NMRC support.
Professor Kofidis has trained in some of the world’s leading institutions (Rochester, NY/Texas Heart, Houston/Hannover Germany, Stanford, CA, USA). He is decorated with various international Awards and carries various offices and commitments internationally. He has lectured for the American Medical Association, the FDA, the Bill Gates Research Institute and more. As an academic teacher, proctor and Consultant for a number of companies in the field-related industry, he is holding events and workshops in various countries around the world, bringing Minimally Invasive knowhow to doctors and patients alike.
Professor Theo Kofidis lives in Singapore with his wife Persephone and daughter Danai, loves to fly airplanes, photograph, work out and read.
GROUP MEMBERS
RESEARCH AREAS
Minimally Invasive Surgical Technology, Heart Failure, Pharmacotherapy of Heart Disease, Medical Devices, Myocardial Restoration, Tissue Engineering
- APPIRED III (global Lead-PI): the first ever CTVS-led multicenter trials of this magnitude (1250 patients) looking at the effect of Alkaline Phosphatase on post Cardiac Surgery patients, with participation of Germany, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Russia, Portugal, Malaysia. An Industry supported trial, which would further pave the way for an Industry affiliated Fund. I have already made it inclusive and invited 2 of our consultants and our Pharmacy department to be the site PIs. This trial will yield a superb publication and put us in the spotlight as introducers of disruptive technology in Asia. (Lead Global PI; 12 Centers in Europe and Asia).
- APTREAT trial: A Phase II efficacy trial with the above drug in pts where Kidney failure has manifested (just approved by the HAS), as an Industry supported trial. (Initiator and co-PI)
- ATTRACT trial: A Cardiology-led international trial within Asia, on Heart Failure. We facilitate patient consent and tissue harvest (Co-PI).
- ITACS trial: The effect of perioperative iron injection on Cardiac Surgery outcomes. This British led, multicenter trial has included us as PI’s soon. I envision the start of a translational service, and Iron-Clinic, aiming at reducing perioperative complications in our patients (PI, Site NUHS. Singapore).
- The ROMA trial: just became participating center, one of only 3 in Asia, in this prestigious and transformative trial on the way CABG surgery is conducted, led by Cornell and Toronto General (Lead PI, SEA).
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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Maron DJ, Hochman JS. Reynolds HR, Bangalore S.; Kofidis, T, et al. for the ISCHAEMIA Research Group. Initial Invasive or Conservative Strategy for Stable Coronary Disease.N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 9;382(15):1395-1407.
Bangalore S, Maron DJ, O’Brien SM, Fleg JL, Kretov EI, Briguori C, Kaul U, Reynolds HR, Mazurek T, Sidhu MS, Berger JS, Mathew RO, Bockeria O, Broderick S, Pracon R, Herzog CA, Huang Z, Stone GW, Boden WE, Newman JD, Ali ZA, Mark DB, Spertus JA, Alexander KP, Chaitman BR, Chertow GM, Hochman, Kofidis T et al. JS; ISCHAEMIA-CKD Research Group. Management of Coronary Disease in Patients with Advanced Kidney Disease. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 23;382(17):1608-1618.
Kofidis T, Gaudino M. Mitral valve repair for ischemic mitral regurgitation: the jury is still out. Ann Thorac Surg. 2021 Apr 24:S0003-4975(21)00738-4.
Leow L, Ramanathan K, Kofidis T, Tam JKC, Mithiran H. Organization of thoracic surgical services during the COVID pandemic. Surgeon. 2021 Feb;19(1):e1-e8.
Papadimas E, Tan YK, Choong AMTL, Kofidis T, Teoh KLK. Anticoagulation After Isolated Mitral Valve Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes. Heart Lung Circ. 2021 Feb;30(2):247-253.
Leow L, Ng J, Luo HD, Choong AMTL, Mithiran H, Kofidis T, Tam JKC. Antifibrinolytics reduces blood loss in thoracic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. ANZ J Surg. 2021 Apr 29.
Sazzad, F.; Kuzemczak, M.; Loh, E.; Wu, W.; Kofidis, T. Targeted Myocardial Restoration with Injectable Hydrogels – In Search of The Holy Grail in Regenerating Damaged Heart Tissue. Biomedicines, 2021, 9, 595.
Sorokin V, Vickneson K, Kofidis T, Woo CC, Lin XY, Foo R, Shanahan CM. Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Plasticity and Interactions in Vessel Wall Inflammation. Front Immunol. 2020 Nov 26;11:599415.
Sazzad F, Ler A, Kuzemczak M, Ng S, Choong AM, Kofidis T. Automated Fastener vs Hand-tied Knots in Heart Valve Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Dec 7:S0003-4975(20)32080-4.
Ler A, Ying YJ, Sazzad F, Choong AMTL, Kofidis T, Structural durability of early-generation Transcatheter aortic valve replacement valves compared with surgical aortic valve replacement valves in heart valve surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis..J Cardiothorac Surg. 2020 Jun 8;15(1):127.
Scientific Awards
1992 Scholarship of the State of Bavaria for outstanding performance
2000 Award for the best oral presentation of the Onassis Institute at the International Congress of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Onassis Heart Center, Athens, Greece
2001 Award of the European Transplant Society for the best scientific work, Basel, Switzerland
2002 The German Research Society Grant Award
2004 The Rockefeller Brothers Fund/Culpeper Bioscience Award, NY, USA
2005 Funding Award of the Brauckmann Foundation, Hannover, Germany
2006 The Lillehei-Caster Award of the European Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stockholm, Sweden
2012 The Lifetime achievement/contribution Award by the Hellenic Cardiology Society
2014 The MOH AMDA Award
2015 The Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, without examination
2019 The NUS Medicine Special Recognition Award