Science
BHF-NIHR partnership set to fast-track coronavirus research
We have joined forces with the National Institute of Health research (NIHR) to launch a nationwide research initiative to better understand why people with heart and circulatory diseases are at higher risk and often suffer more severely with coronavirus (Covid-19).
The initiative, which builds on an existing partnership between our organisations, will provide a new framework for the rapid set-up and delivery of urgent, high impact Covid-19 research projects across the UK.
With support from the British Cardiovascular Society, the BHF Data Science Centre and Health Data Research UK, we are now calling for applications to establish flagship projects.
Unmet need
People with heart and circulatory diseases are more likely to develop severe Covid-19 infections, and last week data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that ischemic heart disease was the most common pre-existing health condition in people who died with Covid-19 during March in England and Wales.
The framework aims to galvanise the UK’s leading cardiovascular researchers and create a streamlined, coordinated, UK-wide approach to research projects to fast-track advances in our understanding of Covid-19.
Fast-track Covid-19 research
Both the BHF and the NIHR say the resources available, through the infrastructure they fund, can be repurposed and deployed to nationally prioritised Covid-19 research. There will also be opportunities for additional resources and funding for high quality projects that are deemed a national priority.
The partners say that the strategy for tackling this pandemic must include urgent research to explain why people with heart and circulatory diseases are more susceptible, understand cardiovascular complications of Covid-19 and uncover the best treatments for these vulnerable patients. There is also an important need to better understand the impact of the pandemic on the normal care of patients with heart and circulatory diseases.
Supporting people living with heart and circulatory diseases is our top priority
Our Medical Director, Professor Sir Nilesh Samani said:
“Covid-19 presents an unprecedented challenge for the cardiovascular research community. However, we also have a huge opportunity to harness our expertise and existing research infrastructure to better understand and tackle this new disease.”
“Supporting people living with heart and circulatory diseases is our top priority. A better understanding of how Covid-19 exerts its effects on the heart and circulatory system and the role it plays in disease severity may reveal key areas for tackling this devastating disease and saving lives.”
“This initiative will allow us to garner the full potential of the cardiovascular clinical and research community in the UK, and move rapidly to deliver life changing research at a national level.”
Professor Simon Ray, President at the British Cardiovascular Society said:
“We know that some patients living with heart and circulatory disease can have particular problems if they become infected with COVID-19 and also that the virus can cause damage to the heart.
“This research collaboration provides a unique opportunity to bring together expertise from all over the UK to answer important questions about how the virus causes these problems and how its effects can be detected and treated"