Science
BHF funding more than half of all UK heart and circulatory disease research
We fund more than half of all UK-based independent research into heart and circulatory diseases, according to a new report from the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The UK Health Research Analysis 2018 report is the fourth in a series of publications from the MRC, which analyses the national landscape of health research - totalling almost £4 billion.
Despite the growing numbers of people affected by these conditions, the proportion of total funding being directed towards heart and circulatory disease research has remained static.
Charities fund 66 per cent
The report reveals that heart and circulatory diseases accounts for 6.1 per cent of the total spend on health research in the UK – while the majority is spent on generic health research, cancer and infections.
As well as looking at the amount invested in research by disease area, the report looks at who is funding the science. Around 66 per cent of all heart and circulatory disease research funding comes from charities, with the overwhelming majority of this charitable spend on cardiovascular research coming from the BHF.
Investment fails to reflect burden
More than 7 million people in the UK are living with heart and circulatory disease and it remains one of the leading causes of death and disability. The investment in research, however, is failing to match the burden of these conditions. Worryingly, a growing and ageing population is likely to contribute to a continuing rise in the number of people suffering from heart and circulatory disease in the future.
Saving and improving countless lives
Our medical director, Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, said:
“For almost 60 years, the BHF has been the nation’s heart charity – leading the way in the fight against heart and circulatory diseases. We fund around £100m of new research each year, all of which is only made possible by the incredible generosity of our supporters. Our research has made a major contribution to saving and improving countless lives.
“Despite this progress, there remains a serious mismatch between funding for heart and circulatory disease research and the number of lives and families these conditions still devastate. We urgently need to close this gap, and the BHF will continue to do our utmost to raise more funds. However, we also need a much bigger commitment from other funders to tackle the world’s biggest killer.”