Find out about upcoming events and opportunities for the cardiovascular research community.
Email us at [email protected] if you have:
- Jobs
- Symposia
- Awards
Or anything else you would like to advertise here. Also, make sure you email us if you have a paper that is about to published or call 020 7554 0164 and ask for the Research Communications team.
Keep up with the latest news about our research funding by signing up to our email newsletter for researchers.
Email your MP asking them to visit BHF at Westminster Party Conferences this Autumn
At the end of June 2024, the waiting list for time-critical heart care reached 426,460 in England alone. We also know that thousands of people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been waiting far too long for cardiac tests and treatments too.
BHF is calling on the new UK Government to commit to a Heart Disease Action Plan with action across three fronts: protection, focus, and breakthroughs
As part of our Hearts Need More campaign, BHF will be exhibiting at the main Westminster Party Conferences this Autumn. Please email your MP using our ready-made template, asking them to visit our stand to hear more about the heart care crisis.
Vote for your Research Story of the Year!
As part of this year’s Heart Hero Awards, we invite you to discover three cutting-edge research projects and vote for the one that you find most inspiring.
Each of our shortlisted projects aims to tackle some of the biggest challenges towards heart and circulatory diseases.
❤️ An AI tool predicting the risk of a heart attack before it happens.
💊 Developing routes to the first drug treatments for vascular dementia.
🔬 High-tech scans helping to detect potentially deadly heart conditions.
Discover more about these incredible BHF-funded research projects and vote for your favourite at bhf.org.uk/researchstoryvote.
The winner will be announced as BHF Research Story of the Year 2024 at our 7th annual Heart Hero Awards in London on Tuesday 3 December.
Spread the word with your teams and networks and cast your vote today.
Voting closes Sunday 29 September at midnight.
What Affects Your Engagement with the UK Government?
The Academic Engagement team at the Government Office for Science would like to gather your views on how you engage with the UK Government.
The information you provide will be used to understand current academic engagement with UK Government. It will also be used to build an evidence base for a scoping project to increase the number of mid-career scientists in the Civil Service at senior levels, permanently.
To share your views, fill out the survey here. They would welcome views from early career researchers all the way to senior researchers and from a broad range of disciplines.
The survey will close Friday 16 August at 5pm.
Reflections of Research competition - one month to go!
It's less than one month until the BHF Reflections of Research competition closes! Do you have a research image that brings your work to life? The most creative and engaging image will be crowned the Judges' Winner. Our social media supporters also vote on the shortlisted entries to pick the Supporter’s Favourite.
This year, we have also opened a new video category for BHF-funded PhD students to capture what a ‘Day in the Life’ of a researcher looks like.
Later this year, an exhibition will be held to showcase all the shortlisted entries. To have the chance to see your image or video displayed in a London gallery - enter now!
The deadline for submissions is 11:59pm on Friday, 28 June.
BHF at British Cardiac Society Conference 2024
British Heart Foundation will be at BCS again this year on 3-5 June in Manchester.
Visit us on stand 8 and speak to a member of the team to find out about our innovation funding projects, alumni programme, and the science behind our vision of a world free from the fear of heart and circulatory diseases.
We also welcome all BCS conference delegates to a drinks reception on Monday 3 June between 6:30-8pm. Join us in the lobby outside Charter 2/3 for drinks and networking as we also award our BHF Fellow of the Year.
We look forward to seeing you there.
GCRFF data challenge
The Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF) data challenge is a project that aims to check how much benefit we get from investing in cardiovascular and stroke research, and also to find areas where more research funding is needed.
Researchers from academic institutions are invited to participate in the challenge. The winning project will be awarded a $20,000 USD cash prize.
Participants will be asked to use artificial intelligence and data analysis to understand what has been successful, what has not, and to identify any gaps in cardiovascular and stroke research programmes. They will need to answer the question: 'How can the organisations that fund cardiovascular and stroke science most effectively fund research to drive discoveries and improve lives?'
Data challenge proposals must be submitted by 10 June 2024.
Applications are now open for the role of Centre Director for the new BHF-UK DRI Centre for Vascular Dementia Research
In partnership with the British Heart Foundation, the UK Dementia Research Institute will establish a new research centre: the 'BHF – UK DRI Centre for Vascular Dementia Research' (CVDR). The CVDR will provide a critical mass, visibility and long-term commitment to Vascular Dementia research.
We are looking to appoint an outstanding scientist and visionary leader to the role of the Centre Director for the CVDR. The Centre Director will work with the UK DRI leadership to develop and implement an Institute-wide, highly collaborative, vascular dementia research vision and strategy. The successful candidate will bring an outstanding international reputation in a related research field and exceptional leadership and management experience.
The successful applicant will be based at one of the UK DRI’s host universities, which is to be determined by the applicant during the selection process.
Already working at the level of academic distinction that the UK DRI would expect of a substantive Professor, you will have a proven track record as an internationally recognised researcher in vascular research with commensurate publications.
The deadline for applications is 9am GMT on the 15 January 2024.
Read the full job description and apply here
CRUK launches new manifesto "Longer, better lives: A manifesto for cancer research and care"
On 28 November, our friends at Cancer Research UK (CRUK) launched their manifesto which outlines commitments that the next government can make to support cancer research.
Although the manifesto's focus is cancer research, it contains broader asks that align to BHF's goals including:
- Rebuilding the UK's global position in research
- Making tests, treatments and innovations available to patients more quickly
- Addressing NHS resource gaps
Here at the BHF, we have long advocated for the UK to consolidate its position in global research, including by associating to the EU's research programme Horizon Europe.
While Horizon association has been achieved, more could be done to attract international talent through competitive visa costs; ensure the sustainability of university research; and to better facilitate the NHS workforce's research activity.
GCRFF Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative - Request for information
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women worldwide, yet research in this area has predominantly focused on men, creating a knowledge gap in understanding women-specific risk factors, symptoms, and outcomes.
The Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF) are requesting information from the international cardiovascular research community to understand the most urgent research needs for women’s cardiovascular health.
Researchers are encouraged to complete the request for information, consisting of 8 short-answer questions to identify priority research gaps related to women’s cardiovascular health from an international perspective.
Share your expertise and contribute to shaping future research funding priorities. Deadline for contributions is 15th January 2024.
Call for the British Heart Foundation Consultant Research Award is now open
Applications are invited for the BHF Consultant Research Award, intended to provide protected time to substantive NHS consultants to undertake cardiovascular research in addition to their clinical roles. Applicants can devote between 20% and 50% of their time over a period of 2-5 years to research.
We encourage applications from everyone, and particularly welcome female applicants as they are currently underrepresented in this grant scheme.
Applicants for this award are strongly encouraged to contact the BHF for an informal discussion before applying at [email protected] and [email protected].
Closing dates for applications are 31 January and 24 July 2024.
Call for expressions of interest to become BHF expert reviewer
We're pleased to announce that an expression of interest to become a funding reviewer has been set up.
We are particularly interested to hear from mid-career researchers with established expertise and from under-represented groups, including women and researchers from an ethnic minority background.
Find out more information and submit an expression of interest here.
British Heart Foundation and UK Dementia Research Institute announce Centre for Vascular Dementia Research
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) have announced plans to establish the UK’s first research Centre dedicated to finding new treatments to prevent, halt and ultimately cure vascular dementia.
The BHF aims to invest £7.5m over the next five years so the Centre can drive forward pioneering research into the devastating condition. UK DRI will contribute £1.5m as well as enable access to its cutting-edge technology and research centres. The Centre will be the UK’s flagship investment for vascular dementia research, uniting leading researchers from around the world under a single virtual ‘roof’.
NHS DigiTrials Recruitment Service
NHS DigiTrials Recruitment Service currently have up to 4 pilot recruitment slots available for organisations to apply for. Do you have an upcoming clinical trial that you need support in recruiting volunteers? This could be your opportunity to access people who are suitable for your trial using routine datasets held by NHS England.
Demand is expected to be high. An open and transparent has been put in place to fill these slots. This will include a presentation about your requested trial that will be scored against a set criteria. Your trial must have a clear benefit to public and social care.
Key dates to be aware of:
- October – Expressions of Interest (EOI) opened on 3 October 2023 and will close on 31 October 2023. The EOI form is available online for submission with some supporting information to help you complete your EOI.
- w/c 6 November – Successful applicants from the initial panel review will be notified. Criteria guidance will be provided alongside available presentation dates and times.
- w/c 27 November – Presentations to be completed throughout the week. In person or online.
- w/c 4 December – Feedback sessions and notifications of award or decline for this round of recruitment for the pilots. Commencement of onboarding as per agreed dates.
If you have any questions, please contact the Business Development Team at: [email protected]
“From Gene Variant to Mouse Model” Meeting, on 23rd-24th November 2023 at MRC Mary Lyon Centre
The MRC National Mouse Genetics Network Congenital Anomaly Cluster, together with the BHF, are holding a hybrid meeting “From gene variant to mouse model” on 23rd-24th November, 2023 at the MRC Mary Lyon Centre, Harwell.
The aims of this informal meeting are to:
- Create a framework for accurately modelling and phenotyping human congenital heart defects in mouse.
- Link human and mouse phenotyping.
The target audience is expected to comprise clinicians, clinical geneticists and developmental biologists interested in finding new genes for congenital heart defects and validating them in mouse models.
For more information and to register for the meeting please download the programme.
BHF Data Science Centre evening drinks reception and Q&A
The BHF Data Science Centre would like to invite you to an informal evening drinks reception at the Clayton Hotel, Station Road, Cambridge, on Monday 2nd October at 5:30-7pm.
The event will be a chance to learn about plans to improve the UK’s data infrastructure, hear about our work in areas such as wearables and cardiovascular imaging, and find out about key outputs from our CVD/COVID-UK/COVID-IMPACT Consortium. You will also meet others working in related fields, and find out how we support research and involve patients and the public.
We are looking forward to a lively Q&A and discussion after short talks from:
Professor Cathie Sudlow, Director
Professor Steffen Petersen, Deputy Director
Margaret Rogers, public contributor
The BHF Data Science Centre is part of Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), the UK’s national institute for health data science, and was set up in 2020 as a partnership between HDR UK and the BHF. Our aim is to enable data-led research to improve heart and circulatory health. We work with a wide range of partners including patients, clinicians, researchers, and NHS organisations to enable data-led research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of all diseases of the heart and circulation, including heart attacks, stroke and vascular dementia.
Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues who may be interested in attending.
UK Stroke Research Workshop 2023
There are still places available at the UK Stroke Research Workshop 2023, which is taking place on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th September 2023 at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology.
There will be updates on the latest stroke research including sessions on novel treatment approaches including AI, what’s new in brain imaging in stroke, brain- immune interactions and controversies in stroke. There is also an interactive workshop highlighting how to develop your career as a stroke researcher, ways in which full time clinicians can become involved in research, and 10 lessons for young researchers.
For more information and to view the event programme, head to www.uclhcharitycourses.com/courses/uk-stroke-research-workshop-2023.
The 2023 call for one British Heart Foundation Daphne Jackson career re-entry fellowship is now open
Applications are now invited for a British Heart Foundation Daphne Jackson Fellowship to be held at any UK university. These Fellowships are intended for individuals who want to return to an area of cardiovascular research after a career break of two years or more. Applicants should have a PhD and preferably postdoctoral experience.
The Fellowship will be part-time for a fixed term of three years.
For further details about the eligibility criteria and application process, please visit www.daphnejackson.org. For further information before submitting an application please contact the Daphne Jackson Trust office on 01483 689166 or via email at [email protected].
Closing date for applications is Monday 2 October 2023.
Find out more information on the scheme here
Involved in clinical research - CVD or otherwise? CRUK wants to hear from you
CRUK’s Policy team is currently running a short survey (approx. 10 minutes) to understand the experience and views of those involved in supporting and/or delivering clinical research in the UK. To maximise the impact and relevance of the findings, they want to hear from health service staff, operational staff, and research support staff who work across all specialties, i.e., not just cancer. As such, as well as completing the survey, please do share the survey with anyone who might be interested.
Your insights and feedback will be key to informing future conversations CRUK and its sector partners, including British Heart Foundation, have with political decision-makers and civil servants in the UK Government and devolved administrations.
Among other things, they want to understand more about:
- Whether you have protected research time in your job plan
- The issues and research barriers you believe the Government needs to hear about most.
- How it’s felt working in clinical research during the UK’s recovery from the pandemic.
- If and how your ability to deliver and/or support high-quality research is being impacted.
The link to the survey will close on August 9th. Thank you in advance for your support.
Vote for your favourite BHF-funded research project
As part of this year’s British Heart Foundation (BHF) Heart Hero Awards, we invite you to vote for one of three BHF-funded research projects.
Each innovative project aims to tackle some of the biggest challenges into heart and circulatory disease.
The top voted project will be announced as this year's BHF Media Award 2023 - Research Story of the Year at the Heart Hero Awards in December.
Choose your favourite project from the following:
❤️ Professor Massimo Caputo at University of Bristol ‘heart plaster’ to stop children needing repeated heart surgeries.
❤️ Dr Rhodri Davies at UCL and Barts Heart Centre roll-out in the NHS of 'superhuman' 20 second AI to detect heart disease at record speed.
❤️ BHF Professor Hugh Watkins at University of Oxford and his CureHeart team’s £30m research to correct DNA mistakes in deadly inherited heart muscle diseases.
To discover more details about each inspiring project and cast your vote, please visit bhf.org.uk/researchstoryvote. Voting should take no longer than 10-15 minutes.
Voting closes on 20 August at 6pm. BHF reserve the right to close the voting at any time.
Changes to consumables budget for PhD schemes
Previously, research consumables for BHF non-clinical PhD studentships, MBPhDs, RTFs and CRTFs could be requested for up to £10,000 per year. We are pleased to announce that this has now been increased to £14,000 per year. Changes will come into effect for any application received from now on.
Share your views on the UKs health data landscape
An independent review has been commissioned to assess the flows of health-relevant data across the four nations of the UK. It is being led by Professor Cathie Sudlow in her capacity as Chief Scientist of Health Data Research UK (HDR UK). It will look to evaluate how data can be better managed to improve public health while maintaining privacy and trust.
As well as mapping the health-relevant data landscape across the four nations of the UK, the Sudlow Review will also identify barriers to the safe and secure linkage and analysis of data from different sources for public benefit and will recommend solutions, with an initial focus on England.
Anyone can contribute to the review, which can be done through a webform found here. BHF researchers can offer their unique views on the current issues in health data, including current infrastructure, hurdles in data use and suggestions for solutions.
The reviews findings will be informed by a wider consultation with sector stakeholders and guided by a panel of leading experts from organisations including NHS England, the Office for National Statistics, the UK Health Security Agency, the Department for Health and Social Care, relevant national organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and others.
Reflections of Research deadline extension
The deadline for our annual research image competition, Reflections of Research, has been extended by two weeks. If you have a striking and engaging image that you think will wow the judges, this is your last chance to send it in
For more information, to see entries from previous years, and to download an entry form please visit our website here.
The new deadline for entries is 23:59 on Friday 23rd June 2023.
Deputy Director post at the BHF Data Science Centre
A fantastic opportunity has arisen within the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Data Science Centre at Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) for a Deputy Director to join a thriving team. The Deputy Director is a new role and we are seeking an exceptional and visionary leader who is well connected and highly respected across cardiovascular clinical and research communities. Secondments for this post would be considered, and as a ‘centre without walls’, the team work flexibly and remotely.
The BHF Data Science Centre is a partnership between HDR UK and the BHF to enable and improve cardiovascular and linked research through the power of large-scale data and advanced analytics. Some key achievements since its inception in 2020 include co-developing a Trusted Research Environment for England with NHS Digital and enabling a growing number of high impact journal papers with real-world policy implications. The Centre is directed by Professor Cathie Sudlow and includes a team of seven Associate Directors, leading a varied range of workstreams including wearables and imaging.
The deadline is the 7th of March.
Information for researchers to use BHF logos
If you have received funding from the BHF you automatically have permission to use our logos on presentations, posters, publications, your organisation’s website, your university profile and other digital assets, but only when talking specifically about BHF-funded research.
You must not, however, pass BHF logos onto third-parties for use on any of their communication channels, without first getting permission from our brand team.
Email our brand team if you have any questions here
Professor Cathie Sudlow appointed Chief Scientist of Health Data Research UK
Professor Cathie Sudlow, the Director of the British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre, has been named as the first Chief Scientist of Health Data Research UK (HDR UK). Professor Sudlow was appointed to her new role with HDR UK based on her vision for its science led focus, enabling impactful health data research to improve people’s lives. Some of her responsibilities as Chief Scientist will include overseeing the science that supports HDR UK’s plans to build on its research expertise, working to build public trust and ensuring that HDR UK continues to enable science that is meaningful, ethical and in the public interest.
Professor Sudlow will continue to lead the BHF Data Science Centre, a flagship collaboration between us and HDR UK. The Centre was established in 2020 to accelerate research in cardiovascular disease, with Professor Sudlow as its founding Director.
Costing a clinical research imaging scan
Are you applying for funding to perform imaging as part of a clinical research project?
We’ve updated our guidance on how to cost a clinical research imaging scan. In recognition of rising costs associated with magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiograms, we’ve uplifted our maximum scan costs for these imaging modalities for new applications. We’re also updating our application forms to ask more in-depth questions about the use of clinical imaging in your research study – to help you cost these scans correctly.
View our new Clinical Research Imaging Guidance here
Neil Herring to give prestigious Bayliss-Starling Prize Lecture for his BHF supported work
Associate Professor Neil Herring, at the University of Oxford has been chosen by The Physiological Society to deliver the Bayliss-Starling Prize Lecture at a forthcoming Society meeting in 2023. Professor Herring, who is also a BHF Senior Clinical Research Fellow, leads a research group in DPAG focusing on local neuromodulators of cardiac autonomic control. As part of the prize lecture, Professor Herring will outline his work into how the autonomic nervous system influences the heart and can trigger or protect it against disease.
The Herring Lab have published recent findings in the cardiovascular research journals, the European Heart Journal and JAMA Cardiology. Their results identified the release of a neurotransmitter called neuropeptide-Y (NPY) and demonstrated that levels of NPY within the heart are very high following a heart attack and during heart failure. They have shown that NPY can trigger dangerous heart rhythms and worsen heart failure by further restricting the heart’s blood supply.
Announcement about our Associate Medical Director
This is to announce that Professor Metin Avkiran, our Associate Medical Director (Research), will be taking a period of special leave in June and July for personal reasons, to spend time with his family.
On his return in August, he will move to a part-time role focusing on specific projects, namely the Big Beat Challenge and our international research partnership award scheme with the DZHK and the Dutch Heart Foundation. He will step down from his other AMD duties.
We have taken steps to cover Metin's leave and his revised focus on returning. We will be advertising for an additional Associate Medical Director shortly.
European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) young investigator awarded to BHF-funded Dr A. Floriaan Schmidt
Dr A. Floriaan Schmidt has received the European Atherosclerosis Society Young Investigator award for his BHF-funded publication “Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) as a drug target for cardiovascular disease”.
The paper investigates the available evidence from both CETP inhibitor trials and from genetic Mendelian randomization of CETP plasma concentrations, concluding “previous failures of CETP inhibitors are likely related to suboptimal target inhibition (dalcetrapib), off-target effects (torcetrapib), or insufficiently long follow-up (evacetrapib). The present drug target MR analysis, consistent with findings from the anacetrapib trials, anticipates that on-target CETP inhibition decreases CVD risk. MR analyses additionally suggest a reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, but an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration."
Dr Schmidt is a Senior Research Follow with the Institute of Cardiovascular Science at UCL and holds an Associate Professorship with the Heart and Lungs department at UMC Utrecht in the Netherlands. Floriaan received funding from the British Heart Foundation, the National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Servier and Erasmus+.
QUOD (Quality in Organ Donation) named UK Biobank of the Year 2022!
The UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre awarded QUOD first place in the UK Biobank of the Year.
The UK Biobanking Showcase is the UK's leading event for those who work in biobanking and human tissue research and took place online over three days with interesting talks and presentations from biobanks all over the UK.
Please see below some extracts from the Judging Panel’s comments:
'The Biobank provides a highly specialist resource which is of immense value to the organ donation field. Despite being so specialised, QUOD nevertheless responded flexibly during the pandemic to participate in the RECOVERY trial and in the development of the NHSBT Oxford COVID BioArchive (COBA). The panel particularly commended the quality and range of the Biobank's outreach and engagement activities which unusually included providing work experience to college students during the pandemic.'
Professor Ploeg, Director of QUOD and Dr Sarah Cross National Operational Coordinator of QUOD are delighted with this wonderful achievement: ‘This award is an important milestone in our pursuit to increase research in donation and transplantation, increasing organ utilisation and providing more and better organs for our patients’. They congratulate the whole QUOD team including the Specialist Nurses in Organ Donation and NORS teams based in the 61 NHS partner trusts across the UK, as well as the core team in Oxford, the Directors of NHS Blood and Transplant, the Medical Research Council and our academic collaborators without whom none of this would have been possible.
Covid-19 impact statement - Changes to application and review forms
The BHF recognises the substantial impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the research that we fund and our researchers’ concerns over the potential consequences of the relevant disruption for their work and careers over a sustained period.
We participated in the Academy of Medical Sciences workshop of researchers, funders and employers in 2020, to “explore the challenges, opportunities and priorities for the biomedical research workforce in overcoming recent disruption, mitigating against medium and longer term impacts, and realising the potential for a more sustainable, adaptable and compelling research arena in future.” The report from that workshop concluded: “With the impact of disruption significant and varied, it will be vital for funders to demonstrate flexible approaches and processes for months and years beyond. To support this, funders should integrate a ‘Covid-19 crisis memory’ into their practices, to account for individual circumstances and ensure the needs of the community remain central in decision-making.”
The BHF endorses this recommendation and proposes that the assessment of grant applications should be adapted to take into account both the acute impact of the Covid-19 disruption and any knock-on effects that are likely to manifest over the post-pandemic months and years.
Congratulations to BHF Professor Metin Avkiran
Professor Metin Avkiran, our Associate Medical Director, has received the International Society for Heart Research (ISHR) 2022 Distinguished Leader Award in recognition of his leadership contributions to promoting the discovery and dissemination of knowledge in the cardiovascular sciences, the core mission of the Society.
The Distinguished Leader Award is one of the Society’s highest honours, with the recipient selected by the World Council. It is awarded to individuals who have made sustained outstanding contributions to the ISHR and its mission.
Congratulations Professor Metin Avkiran!
Our Future Health survey
Do you have a few minutes to answer a survey to help to shape the UK’s new leading research platform?
Our Future Health is a collaboration between the public, charities and the private sectors. It has been built in partnership with the NHS and is funded by UKRI. It aims to be the UK’s largest health research programme, bringing people together to develop new ways to detect, prevent and treat diseases. It will collect information from millions of volunteers across the UK. You can find out more information on their website.
Researchers will be able to use Our Future Health to make new discoveries about human health and disease by accessing resources through a trusted research environment (TRE).
This survey is designed to gather information that will help to build a research platform that meets the needs of the people who intend to use it – researchers. The questionnaire will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. You will be asked a series of questions about the type of research field you typically work within, your preferred methods and tools, the type of data you tend to work with and your experiences with any other research environments.
Deadline: 10th December 2021
Congratulations to BHF Professor Charalambos Antoniades
Congratulations to our new BHF Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford, Professor Charalambos Antoniades.
Professor Antoniades will start on 1st December 2021 and will be researching new treatments to reduce complications of diabetes.
Professor Antoniades and his team are investigating how fat in our bodies, particularly fat that surrounds our arteries, communicates with our heart and blood vessels, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Understanding this will help establish new ways to detect, prevent and treat these conditions.
Call for researcher input
The BHF’s Health Intelligence team are undergoing a pilot project for a chatbot. We would be grateful for any researchers who have used the BHF Statistical Compendium, in any capacity, to fill out a brief survey about how you have used the data. The survey will cover what you have extracted from the compendium and for what purpose, and how you might use a Chatbot function (e.g. direct questions, asking for links, etc.). Based on the responses our project team will build a prototype and send a follow-up form to evaluate its functionality. Please get in touch with Naomi Herz for more information or to participate.
BHF Scotland celebrate 60 years of pioneering research
In celebration of our 60th Birthday, Head of BHF Scotland James Jopling presented a special event highlighting some of the BHF’s achievements over the past six decades.
He was joined by Chief Executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Edinburgh Nick Mills and many more, discussing the significance of our research, talent of our researchers, and dedication of our supporters across the nation.
Topics include Heart Attacks in Scotland: 60 Years of Progress, Successes of Policy and Influencing in Scotland, 60 Years of BHF Retail and Volunteer Stories, as well as a special guest message from BHF Ambassador and former Scotland football Captain Graeme Souness.
From pioneering research and the impact of COVID-19 to innovative fundraising and inspirational real-life stories, discover what BHF-funded research means for the people of Scotland.
Congratulations to our Medical Director, Professor Sir Nilesh Samani
We're very proud to announce that BHF Medical Director Professor Sir Nilesh Samani has been awarded the European Society of Cardiology Gold Medal, given to exceptional cardiologists for their contribution to medicine.
Professor of Cardiology at the University of Leicester, Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Medical Director at the BHF since 2016, Professor Samani’s work has been instrumental in identifying over 50 genes associated with coronary heart disease. Findings from his research are being used to understand more about the causes of heart and circulatory conditions, to develop new treatments, and to help identify people at risk.
Congratulations to Professor Paul Evans
Congratulations to Professor Evans at the University of Sheffield on receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award at this year's European Society of Cardiology conference.
This award recognises Professor Evans' research on a disease called atherosclerosis in which arteries develop fatty plaques that can cause angina, heart attack or stroke. This disease is a major cause of disability and death but the mechanisms that cause it are not fully understood. Professor Evans' lab discovered several genes that are 'switched on' during atherosclerosis and drive the disease process, and they are now using this discovery as a basis to develop new medicines for patients with cardiovascular disease.
Congratulations Professor Evans!
Congratulations to Dr Adam Greenstein
Congratulations to Dr Greenstein at the University of Manchester whose paper 'Disruption of Pressure-Induced Ca2+ Spark Vasoregulation of Resistance Arteries, Rather Than Endothelial Dysfunction, Underlies Obesity-Related Hypertension', was selected as the top paper for 2020 in the category of basic science in the journal Hypertension.
Congratulations Dr Greenstein!
New Weekly Podcasts launched from 16th July
The British Junior Cardiologists’ Association (BJCA) in collaboration with the BHF CRC have recorded a great series of podcasts with experts from research organisations like the Health Research Authority, NIHR Academy and the BHF telling you how to navigate the obstacles and the common mistakes they’ve seen. They are honoured to bring you first-hand insights from Research Fellows who have recently gone through the process and sharing ‘what they wish they had known at the start’.
The podcasts are aimed at any Cardiology Fellow considering doing an MD/PhD or those and other healthcare professionals starting off and in the early stages of their research programme. It will be invaluable content for any Academics wanting to hear the experience of others and from leaders in the field.
Every Friday, a new episode will be released on Youtube, Spotify, iTunes. Simply search for ‘SOOPR’ or use the link below. A back catalogue can also be found on BJCA.tv
Please ‘Follow’ or ‘Subscribe’ to BJCA to be alerted to every new episode and it will also help them to create future episodes!
Watch and listen to the podcasts
Congratulations to Dr. Anna Price
Congratulations to Dr Price at the University of Birmingham whose paper 'Cardiovascular Effects of Unilateral Nephrectomy in Living Kidney Donors at Five Years', was selected as a High Impact Paper in Hypertension for Summer 2021 in the category of Clinical Science.
The editors of Hypertension established a program to recognise High Impact Papers published in the Journal in the categories of basic, clinical, and population sciences. High Impact papers are selected every quarter by the editors of Hypertension to draw attention to the most important research published in the journal during the preceding 3 months. Selected papers are featured on the journal website, announced to AHA members by email and shared with all Hypertension followers on social media outlets.
Congratulations Dr Price!
British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre appoints Dr Michelle Williams as new Imaging Data Thematic Lead
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Michelle Williams as its new Associate Director and Theme Lead for Imaging Data.
Michelle Williams is joining the BHF Data Science Centre, led by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), on a part-time secondment basis to provide strategic leadership in improving the discovery of, access to and use of clinical imaging data in cardiovascular research. Michelle will build partnerships with the data science, imaging and cardiovascular communities, NHS organisations, patients, public and other stakeholders to identify and prioritise the key opportunities for using and linking imaging data with other health data for cardiovascular research. The aim is to improve understanding, monitoring and management of cardiovascular disease, driving benefits for patients and healthcare.
Congratulations to our Medical Director, Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, BHF Professor Barbara Casadei and Dr Sarah Clarke
Congratulations to our Medical Director, Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, BHF Professor Barbara Casadei and BHF Trustee Dr Sarah Clarke who have been awarded Mackenzie Medals by the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) for outstanding service to British cardiology. The awards were announced at the 2021 virtual BCS Annual Conference.
Congratulations to Professor Nicholas Mills
Congratulations are in order for Professor Nicholas Mills, BHF Butler Senior Clinical Research Fellow and Professor of Cardiology at the University of Edinburgh, who has been elected as a 2021 Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the independent body in the UK representing the diversity of medical science. The elected Fellows are the UK’s leading medical scientists from hospitals, academia, industry and the public service. Their mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society.
Tribute to BHF Professor Rhian Touyz
Professor Rhian Touyz has made the decision to become Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Quebec, after almost nine years as BHF Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Glasgow. We thank Professor Touyz for her outstanding contribution to cardiovascular research and wish her the very best.
Congratulations to Dr Jakub Lagan
Congratulations to BHF-funded researcher Dr Jakub Lagan at the University of Manchester who won the Young Investigator of the Year award (clinical research) at the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Annual Scientific Sessions 2021.
Supporting the development of clinical research in cardiovascular disease
The BHF Clinical Research Collaborative (BHF CRC) are pleased to announce it will be launching a fund to support the development of clinical research in cardiovascular disease. The fund will provide grants from £5k up to £20k and all topic ideas will be considered. Bids must be approved by, and submitted through, the leadership of one of their constituent Research Groups. Further details on the funding and application process can be found here. We anticipate that this fund will offer clinical research groups the opportunity to develop and excel in their areas of work and stimulate some important pilot and development work while at the same time promoting the wider benefits of cardiovascular research activity in the UK.
For any queries on the fund or BHF CRC support in general, please contact [email protected].
Open Access Publication of the Month
A publication from the BHF Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit was awarded “Open Access Publication of the Month” by Health Data Research UK. The six criteria against which the publications are judged are research quality, national team working, scale, open access, public and patient involvement and impact, as well as diversity and inclusion.
The British Medical Journal publication assessed the accuracy of the AbC-19 Rapid Test lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of Covid-19 infection.
Mentor up to three young people and empower them to achieve their potential in STEM
In2scienceUK works with passionate researchers to support disadvantaged young people to pursue degrees, apprenticeships and careers in STEM. Through an inspirational programme of research, skills workshops, mentoring and in-person experiences over the summer, In2scienceUK gives Year 12 students the opportunities they need to overcome the barriers in their way of becoming the next generation of STEM innovators and pioneers.
It’s easy to support In2scienceUK’s mission by becoming a mentor. Make a difference to the prospects of these young people by sharing your own expertise and insights through online mentoring and a one-day workplace visit (Covid-19 restrictions permitting). Sign up here and provide underrepresented students with invaluable support to help them succeed on their journey into STEM.
BHF Professor Barbara Casadei thanked for "inspired leadership" by ESC
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has thanked BHF Professor Barbara Casadei for her “inspired leadership in exceptional times” following her two-year term as President. As President, Professor Casadei grew the Society’s fellowship programme, organised the two most successful annual congresses in its history, and led the Society to rapidly respond to the Covid-19 crisis. Professor Casadei, who is based at the BHF Centre of Excellence at the University of Oxford, will now join the ESC’s Board until September 2022.
Congratulations to Mr Nigel Drury
Congratulations to Mr Nigel Drury who has been awarded a prestigious Hunterian Professorship 2021. Nigel, a BHF Intermediate Fellow, has received this award for his work on myocardial protection during heart surgery in children.
The Hunterian Professorship, named after pioneering surgeon and scientist John Hunter, is among the most prestigious awards within the field of surgery and is awarded annually by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Nigel will now deliver his lecture, entitled ‘Myocardial protection in paediatric cardiac surgery: building an evidence-based strategy’ at the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery’s annual national meeting.
Nigel, a consultant in paediatric cardiac surgery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and clinician scientist at the University of Birmingham, is the chief investigator of two multi-centre clinical trials in children’s heart surgery funded by the BHF. Both trials are researching ways to improve protection of the heart against ischaemia-reperfusion injury during surgery for congenital heart defects.
Find out more about our research on congenital heart disease
Congratulations to Professor Sir Rory Collins
Congratulations to Professor Sir Rory Collins who has been awarded the MRC Millennium Medal 2020. This medal is presented to an exceptional scientist who has made a major contribution towards improving health, quality of life and wealth creation.
Sir Rory is being recognised, not only for his visionary leadership of UK Biobank, but also his contributions to investigating the causes, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. His application of clinical trial methodology to addressing the management of cardiovascular disease has transformed clinical practice globally.
Our sincere condolences
We are very sad to inform you that Professor Tony Gershlick has died as a result of Covid-19 infection. Tony was a leading light of interventional cardiology for more than 35 years and a tireless advocate of the importance of trials to guide clinical practice. He was directly involved in every major advance in coronary intervention and his influence as a key opinion leader extended around the world. He remained extremely active in clinical and academic practice and was due to be Chairing an International Symposium on the Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on acute coronary syndromes. We extend our sincere condolences to Tony’s family and colleagues.
British Cardiovascular Society Awards Day 2020
Congratulations to BHF-funded researchers Jillian Simon (Casadei Group, University of Oxford) for winning The Young Investigator Award, and Richard Jabbour (Harding Group, Imperial College London) and Natalie Haywood (Kearney Group, University of Leeds) as the competition’s runners-up.
Congratulations also to Christopher Miller (University of Manchester) for the Michael Davies Early Career Award.
Congratulations to Professor Cathie Sudlow
Congratulations to Professor Cathie Sudlow, Director of the BHF Data Science Centre, for being awarded an OBE for her services to medical research in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Cathie is a Professor of Neurology and Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh. In 2019, Cathie was appointed as the Director of the BHF Data Science Centre, a partnership between Health Data Research UK and the British Heart Foundation to promote the safe and ethical use of data for research into the causes, prevention and treatment of all diseases of the heart and circulation.
Find out more about the BHF Data Science Centre
Congratulations to Professor Paul Riley
Congratulations to Professor Paul Riley for being appointed Director of Oxford’s Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine.
Professor Paul Riley will lead the scientific vision of the first institute of its kind in the world to physically merge the disciplines of developmental biology and regenerative medicine in a common goal to treat some of the world’s most prolific diseases.
The impact of Covid-19 on your research
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and cuts to research budgets, medical research charities are doing all they can to protect biomedical research. As part of our #ResearchAtRisk campaign, we want to know how the pandemic is affecting you, both now and in your future plans. If you are an early-career researcher, please complete our short survey; your views are important as they could strengthen the case we’re making to Government to provide financial support for charity-funded research. It should take no more than 5-10 minutes and please be assured that all responses will remain anonymous.
New series of virtual research events
We've launched a new series of online monthly events to keep our supporters connected with the BHF. Whilst we can’t meet our supporters face to face we hope these hour long broadcasts will keep us connected. We’ are giving an update on the latest BHF activity, the research landscape and inspiring projects underway.
Congratulations to our new Associate Medical Director Professor James Leiper
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor James Leiper from the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences as a new Associate Medical Director for Research. Professor Leiper will start on 1 April 2020 and join the senior research team, which sets our research strategy and oversees around £100 million worth of research funding each year.
Learn more about Professor James Leiper
Congratulations to Nobel Prize Winner Professor Sir Peter Ratcliffe
Congratulations to Professor Sir Peter Ratcliffe, Director for the Target Discovery Institute within the Nuffield Department of Medicine at Oxford University, who has been announced as a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Sir Peter was announced as a winner of the Prize alongside William G Kaelin, Jr of Harvard University and Gregg L Semenza of Johns Hopkins University. Together they discovered the key mechanisms that our cells use to detect and respond to low oxygen levels, known as 'hypoxia'.
Sir Peter was funded by the BHF to establish the Target Discovery Institute at Oxford University, an initiative that helped accelerate the translation of new knowledge into real benefits for heart patients.
We're changing how we receive applications for research grants
The BHF is moving to a new research grants management system in January 2020. We will soon stop accepting applications made through our existing GMS. There will be deadlines for each grant type by which applicants will need to submit any outstanding applications, which you can find What we fund section.
Please note that if your application is not submitted to the BHF by the relevant deadline then it will be deleted and not migrated to the new system. Please make sure you have completed any applications you have started in time!
Congratulations to BHF Professor Rhian Touyz
Congratulations to Professor Rhian Touyz at the University of Glasgow who is to receive the 2019 award of research excellence by the American Heart Association (AHA) Council on Hypertension.
This honour is the AHA Council's most prestigious award and recognises research excellence and outstanding contributions in the field of hypertension.
Professor Touyz will receive the award for her world-leading work on molecular mechanisms and vascular biology of hypertension, which is the major cause of disability and premature death worldwide.
Read more about the award and Professor Rhian Touyz's work.
Congratulations to BCS Young Investigator Award winner
Congratulations to Dr Donna Page, this year's winner of the BCS Young Investigator award. Along with colleagues at the University of Manchester, BHF-funded Dr Page has pinpointed two possible genetic causes of Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). People born with ToF have four specific structural abnormalities in the heart, which mean they often have to undergo open heart surgery early in life.
This work will help doctors to support people with ToF to understand more about how their condition may be passed on.
Read more about the work, led by BHF Professor Bernard Keavney.
New AcMedSci Fellows
Congratulations to BHF-funded researchers Professor Colin Baigent, Professor Harry Hemingway, and Professor Michael Murphy who have been elected as fellows at The Academy of Medical Sciences.
AcMedSci are the independent body in the UK representing the diversity of medical science. Their mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society.
Name the new BHF meeting room
This year, we will be naming at least one BHF meeting room after a woman who has made a considerable contribution to heart and circulatory diseases and we'd love to hear some suggestions from you.
Nominees can be living or deceased, active in their careers or retired, but they must have made a significant impact in heart and circulatory disease research or care. You can nominate someone until the end of May.
Servier Award at the European Society for Microcirculation (ESM)
Congratulations to former BHF Fellow Dr Tamara Girbl for winning the Servier Award in Microcirculation. The Servier Award is given every 2 years by the European Societies for Microcirculation and Vascular Biology to an outstanding publication on microcirculation or vascular biology in basic or clinical research.
Published in Immunity, her work describes for the first time the cascade of molecular cues that guide neutrophils through inflamed blood vessels, demonstrating the complex control of this vital immune response. Dr Girbl will receive the award on Thursday, April 18.
Congratulations to BHF Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak
BHF Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak has been appointed as MRC Health Innovation Champion, on secondment from the University of Glasgow. This is a new senior role within the MRC and will enable more effective collaborations with commercial partners to encourage and support research in improving human health.
Professor Dominiczak looks forward to playing a part and sharing her expertise, and that of the University of Glasgow, as they work together to drive health innovation.
Warm congratulations to Professor Anna Dominiczak!
More information on Dame Dominiczak
BHF awards £34m to safeguard UK’s world-class research status
This month the BHF announced £34 million of new funding across 12 universities, in a step that bolsters world-class, UK-led heart and circulatory disease research.
The awards come from two of our highly-competitive BHF funding schemes: the Research Excellence Awards, which were first launched in 2008, and new Accelerator Awards. The awards provide funding for the next five years and are aimed at empowering researchers to undertake innovative science, break down boundaries and spark new collaborations in heart and circulatory disease research.
The BHF and Plan S open access
The BHF requires that publications arising from the research that it funds are made freely available to the broader scientific community and to the public, to maximise the reach and benefit of that research towards tackling heart and circulatory diseases.
In keeping with our Open Access policy, we are strongly supportive of the principal aim of Plan S to make all peer-reviewed publications arising from publicly-funded research immediately and freely available. In the coming months, we will look to engage directly with our researchers to gather their input and to represent them in further discussion with cOAlition S.
How should results from health research studies be made available to patient/other stakeholder groups?
Dissemination of research results is now recognised as an integral part of the research process. A team at Cardiff University want to find out what steps researchers, who carry out health related research, are currently taking to communicate research findings. And they would like to invite you to share your insights.
Please contact Maria Longo with any questions
Brexit updates for researchers
Since the EU referendum, the BHF has advocated consistently for preservation of UK/EU research funding, researcher mobility and regulatory alignment to allow for continued close scientific collaboration with EU members. We have created a page outlining a multitude of resources that may be helpful to EU nationals or researchers in receipt of EU funding. We will keep this up to date as we continue to get further information. We anticipate the guidance will continue to emerge – because the situation remains unpredictable, please do not hesitate to contact the policy team with specific questions or concerns.
Brexit updates for researchers
Congratulations to Dr Anna Martinez-Naharro
Dr Martinez-Naharro has been awarded the 2018 Cardiovascular Imaging Young Author Achievement Award. The prestigious title was given by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) and recognises Martinez-Naharro's paper entitled “Native T1 and Extracellular Volume in Transthyretin Amyloidosis,” which was published online (March 14, 2018) in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
Warm congratulations to Dr Martinez-Naharro!
Are you interested in how the media works?
Are you a data scientist or researcher who works with big data, patient data, genomics or AI? Are you interested in the media – and how to help journalists report your subject better? On 31 January, the Science Media Centre (SMC) are hosting a free Introduction to News Media event at the Wellcome Trust. The SMC make sure the best science hits the headlines and is explained accurately and comprehensively.
For more information on how to attend take a look at the Science Media Centre website.
Who funds research into heart and circulatory diseases?
When it comes to Europe, the British Heart Foundation alone accounts for 14 per cent of the total funding into these conditions. Thanks to our contribution, the UK is the top runner in the European CVD research funding landscape.
This article published in the European Heart Journal looks at who the key players are, and how the BHF’s present and future contribution is so important – especially in the context of Brexit.
Congratulations to Professor Mandy MacLean
Professor Mandy MacLean has been awarded three prestigious honours in recent weeks. The British Pharmacological Society have awarded her
an honorary fellowship to recognise her contribution to the Society, and for leadership in the public understanding of pharmacology, and in pulmonary pharmacology. Professor McLean has also been appointed as Scotland's Regional Champion for the Academy of Medical Sciences to help raise awareness of their work amongst the biomedical community. In addition she has been appointed as the Vice-President (Life Sciences) of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Warm congratulations to Professor MacLean!
Congratulations to BCIS award winners
Congratulations to BHF funded researchers Dr Haseeb Rahman and Professor Colin Berry, who have been awarded the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS)'s Young Investigator Award and Research Award respectively. They received their awards at the second annual BCIS research day, held at the Royal College of Physicians on the 13th of December 2018.
More on the BCIS award winners
BHF announces two new Fellowships for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals
The BHF is pleased to announce two new Fellowship schemes for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals, which will commence in 2019. Applications for both schemes will open in early 2019, and you can follow the links below for more information.
Research Training Fellowships for Nurses and Allied Health ProfessionalsThe Research Training Fellowship aims to provide a foundation in research training for nurses and allied health professionals, leading to the award of a PhD.
Career Development Research Fellowships for Nurses and Allied Health ProfessionalsThe Career Development Fellowship provides an opportunity for someone with an established research record to receive support to progress and become a leader in academic nursing or allied health research.
Job Opportunity - BHF Clinical Research Collaborative
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is establishing a National Cardiovascular Clinical Research Collaborative (BHF-CRC) to support the conduct of excellent clinical research in cardiovascular medicine and surgery in the UK. The network will provide an infrastructure to facilitate, enhance and coordinate the current clinical research efforts of existing cardiovascular and surgical societies and clinical study groups, all of which have pledged their support and many of which are supported by patient groups. We are seeking to appoint a full-time Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the BHF-CRC.
Discover more about the job opportunity
ESC Award Winners
Congratulations to the BHF-funded researchers who won awards at the ESC Congress this year. BHF-funded researchers won awards in several prestigious categories, including:
• Young Investigators Awards (Dr Timothy Cartlidge, Dr Evangelos K Oikonomou, Dr Ioannis Akoumianakis)
• Moderated Posters Awards (Dr Ify Mordi)
BHF Professor David Newby was also invited to give the ESC Rene Laennec Lecture on Clinical Cardiology – his title was ‘Cardiovascular imaging for the future: it’s chalk and cheese’.
Horizon 2020
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched a bespoke portal for recipients of Horizon 2020 grants to input basic information about their awards. This aims to support the continuity of funding for UK organisations which have been awarded grants from the European Union’s flagship science and innovation programme, Horizon 2020. Registration will ensure that UKRI can keep UK researchers and businesses informed of the next steps if the government needs to underwrite these payments.
You can access the portal and find out more information
BHF appoints new Associate Medical Director
The BHF is delighted to announce that Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan has been appointed as a new Associate Medical Director.
Dr Babu-Narayan currently holds a BHF Intermediate Clinical Research Fellowship, and is Clinical Senior Lecturer at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital. She is internationally recognised for her research to improve the care and quality of life of adults who were born with heart defects (adults with congenital heart disease). Associate Medical Directors provide leadership and strategic direction to the vital research mission of the BHF, helping to ensure every pound donated is used to support research with the potential to make the maximum impact for those affected by heart and circulatory diseases. Dr Babu-Narayan will particularly oversee the BHF’s clinical research portfolio.
Learn more about Dr Babu-Narayan
NHS Innovation Accelerator – call for applicants
The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA), is a national accelerator supporting dedicated individuals to scale their high impact, evidence-based innovations across the NHS and wider healthcare system.
As part of an annual international call, the NIA invites applications from exceptional individuals representing innovations which address clear needs and challenges faced by the NHS. Prevention and early detection of heart and circulatory diseases have been included as a key theme for this round of funding.
More information and how to apply
A new health research platform for North West London
The Discover register is a new health research platform, created by Imperial College Health Partners, which provides health researchers with a single point of access to data and potential research subjects in North West London (NWL).
It is a searchable database of the patients and healthy members of the public included in the NWL Whole Systems Integrated Care (WSIC) data who have consented to be contacted about relevant research opportunities. The aim of the register is to radically improve the way researchers are able to recruit to studies and ensure that researchers can meet recruitment targets by offering a ‘one-stop-shop’ for research recruitment.
To find out more about this tool, visit the Discover website
Convenor role for a new BHF centre for data science
As we enter the era of digital medicine, there’s a growing need to foster excellence in data science. At the BHF, we recognise the enormous potential of data science and want to create an environment where we can realise that potential. A new BHF centre for data science will provide the data science required to propel the UK to become the largest and best learning cardiovascular health system in the world, providing rich data resources required to better understand heart and circulatory disease.
To shape proposals for the Centre, Health Data Research UK will appoint a Convenor, a significant strategic role, that will ensure the scientific health data research community, key partners and stakeholders, professional bodies, organisations across the UK cardiovascular health system and UK data controllers have the opportunity to drive the Centre’s development. We are looking for someone to bring together the knowledge and expertise of all these partners and help us develop the proposals for this initiative.
More information on the role, including how to apply
New e-learning opportunity
The British Journal of Cardiology have announced that their latest e-learning module on ‘Potassium and the heart’ is now available online. This module is designed to give healthcare professionals an introduction to potassium and the heart, and highlights aspects of the identification of potassium abnormalities, and how these can be treated.
This is the BJC's first e-learning module available as a short podcast and is available free of charge to all healthcare professionals.
Find out more about the module
BCS award winners
Congratulations to all of the award winners at this year's British Cardiovascular Society conference. We're pleased to announce that BHF Professors David Newby and Hugh Watkins, and BHF-funded PhD student Laurienne Edgar were among the worthy winners.
Find out who won
Is your research about to be published?
We always like to know when a paper from research we've funded is going to be published. Please let us know by email or call 020 7554 0164 and ask for the Research Communications team.
You can also sign up to our Researcher Newsletter to get regular updates on our latest grant recipients and other funding news.
Sign up to receive our Researcher Newsletter.
Congratulations to award-winning BHF researchers
The Lymphovascular Research Group from St George’s, University of London were in attendance at the Gordon Research Conference on Lymphatics, which took place 11 – 16 March in Italy.
They had a very successful trip and ran away with most of the available prizes, including the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award in Lymphatic Research’ won by Professor Mortimer and the ‘Career Achievement Award in Lymphatic Research’ won by Dr Pia Ostergaard. The group has had significant support from the BHF over the years to help fund their exciting projects into the lymphovascular system and we would like to congratulate them on their success!
BHF researchers take home two prizes from CMR2018
Many congratulations to the team of BHF researchers from the University of Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance for winning two awards at the CMR2018 Joint EuroCMR/SCMR meeting in Barcelona. Dr Alexander Liu won the Early Career Award, whilst Professor Vanessa Ferreira won the award for publishing the most highly cited paper of 2014, for work funded by the BHF!
Congratulations to them both!
Professor Joanna Wardlaw wins award at the ASA conference
Professor Joanna Wardlaw from the University of Edinburgh has been awarded the 2018 William M. Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke at this year's American Stroke Association (ASA) conference for her research into Lacunar stroke.
Congratulations to Professor Wardlaw!
NHS Digital Research Advisory Group
The Research Advisory Group (RAG) aims to support the better use of NHS Digital data and services for the benefit of patients and the public. Hosted by NHS Digital, the group consists of senior representatives from across research and the third sector, including the Association of Medical Research Charities, Health Research Authority, National Institute for Health Research and Medical Research Council. RAG aims to build a partnership that helps improve our data/services and enables better, faster research.
To keep up to date with RAG's progress, you can sign-up to receive their bi-monthly research bulletin.
BHF-Turing Cardiovascular Data Science Awards
The BHF has announced a new joint funding scheme to support collaborative research between cardiovascular investigators and data scientists that could generate data science solutions to key cardiovascular problems. Most applications are expected to be for small scoping or pilot projects, but applications for more extensive work to deliver larger projects will also be considered.
Please read the Data Science Awards guidance notes for application details.
All applications must be made online via the Turing’s Flexigrant portal: https://ati.flexigrant.com
BHF-Daphne Jackson Fellowships
Applications are invited for up to two British Heart Foundation Daphne Jackson Fellowships to be held at any UK university or research institute. The fellowships are intended for individuals who want to return to an area of cardiovascular research after a career break of two years or more. The positions will be part-time for a fixed term of three years.
The Daphne Jackson Trust offers support during the application process, and the fellowship includes mentoring and retraining, giving awardees the confidence and skills they need to successfully return to a research career.
Further details on the fellowships and how to apply.
NHS Digital research newsletter
NHS Digital produce a bi-monthly research bulletin, to give important updates on new and emerging activity in the health and care sector. The bulletin includes articles which are specific to the research community around the access of data and new sets of data, to support life saving science.
Join our global network
We’re launching a free membership programme to support our community of past and present researchers throughout the world.
For over 50 years the BHF has funded cardiovascular research at all levels. Our aim with our new alumni programme is to establish a global family of BHF funded researchers past and present and to promote new collaborations in that family. The new programme will also offer professional development for all our members.
Join our network to be supported, informed and connected throughout your research and beyond, wherever your career may take you.
Dr Roger Thompson receives BHF Fulbright Award
Dr Roger Thompson, a clinician scientist from the University of Sheffield, has received our British Heart Foundation Fulbright Award. This will enable him to carry out his research at Stanford University on one of the most well-regarded and impactful scholarship programmes in the world.
Dr Thompson will work with Professor Marlene Rabinovitch, researching a rare but devastating disorder called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). This disease causes breathlessness, heart failure and death due to the narrowing of blood vessels and high blood pressure within the lungs. His research aims to find out more about how the body controls the narrowing of blood vessels, with the hope of finding new treatments.
BHF researchers elected as Fellows of the Royal Society
BHF Professor Hugh Watkins at the University of Oxford and Dr Patrick Vallance, GSK President of Research Development and a former BHF researcher, have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Society.
The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship consisting of the most eminent scientists, engineers and technologists from across the UK and the Commonwealth. Fellows are elected for life for their excellence in science. This is well-deserved recognition of Professor Watkin's and Dr Vallance's achievements.
Improving support for clinical academics
Wellcome have now published the UK clinical academic training in medicine and dentistry: principles and obligations report. Supported by the British Heart Foundation and a number of other funding bodies, the principles and obligations aim to ensure that academic training is recognised and integrated with clinical training and work, and that the positive impact researching clinicians have on patient care is better acknowledged.
Read the principles and obligations.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Mapping a research career across the funding landscape
Navigating through the options available for funding and developing a career in biomedical research can be complex, with lots of information available from many different funders of research.
To help members of the research community view and compare the different fellowships and other funding schemes for different career stages, the BHF has joined together with the MRC and several other research funders to create an interactive and integrated map of the different awards that are available to biomedical researchers.
The ‘funding view’ of the Interactive Career Framework provides information and links for different award types, including the required level of experience, duration and amount of funding available. Researchers at all levels can now easily browse the opportunities available to them at their career stage from eight major UK grant-awarding bodies, including the BHF.
Our newly improved Interactive Career Framework.
Fulbright – British Heart Foundation Scholar Award
One grant will be offered to a UK academic or professional to pursue laboratory based research into the biomedical or clinical aspects of cardiovascular disease for a period of 12 months at any accredited US higher education institution. Research projects must not involve direct clinical contact with patients.
Grants in this category cover the awardee’s salary for the duration of the grant at a level that is commensurate with his/her experience and in line with UK national pay scales. This funding is intended as a contribution towards any institutional fees, accommodation and general maintenance costs while in the US. In addition this award provides travel expenses for one round trip economy flight to the US.
Find out more at about the award and how to apply.
Are you fundraising for us?
If you’re taking part in a BHF event, a charity cycle, a fun run or trek, the BHF press team want to shout about it!
Help us connect fundraising to your research and we can work with you on writing a blog, getting in the local paper or give you some tips on maximising your donations.
Email [email protected] to let us know what you're doing.
Calling all budding bloggers
We want to help connect BHF-funded researchers with as many people as possible, from the general public to other researchers. We want to share what it’s like to be one of our driven researchers, fighting for every heartbeat.
To do this, we publish regular blog posts written by our funded researchers on our Medium blog. You can write about your life in the lab, explain a particular breakthrough or even share a video of your research in action.
Sharing your research in a way that’s accessible and understandable is great experience for all scientists, whatever stage of your career, and we would love you to get involved whether you’re just starting your career, perhaps as a PhD student, or a BHF Professor with decades of experience.
Email [email protected] to register your interest and find out more.
#OpenAccess
We contribute to the Charities Open Access Fund(COAF) - a fund to provide financial support for immediate “gold” open access of peer reviewed original research articles and non-commissioned reviews.
Researchers must be based at one of the 36 universities involved in the scheme and the fund will take the form of a block grant to each institution. The scheme is a partnership between 6 UK medical research charities and will be administered by the Wellcome Trust.
For researchers not based at one of the institutions, our usual processes remain in place.
Online reporting tool for evaluating outputs of our research
It’s crucial for us to capture the outcomes of the research we fund, not least to communicate the benefits of our research to supporters.
But we know that reporting outcomes to a host of different funding agencies is burdensome. So, we’ve launched Researchfish - a survey database that will allow you to upload outcome data about your research to multiple funders easily and quickly.
Here’s what you’ll have to do:
You will automatically receive an email from Researchfish asking you to register. You then need to:
- Register and start building your profile and research portfolio
- Keep your portfolio updated throughout the year
- Submit this information to us once yearly.
Read our page on research evaluation for further information on Researchfish.