New world-leading Heart and Lung Research Institute 'topped off'

The construction of a world-leading heart and lung research centre in Cambridge – which we part funded – is one step closer to completion after the structure reached its highest point on Monday.

The University of Cambridge and Royal Papworth Hospital held a small topping-out ceremony to mark the occasion.

The Heart and Lung Research Institute (HLRI) is based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and will create the largest cardiothoracic centre for research, education, industry collaboration and clinical care in Europe.

The centre will focus on bringing research development to patients and will target a range of diseases affecting the heart and lungs including heart attacks and pulmonary hypertension.

World leading research hub

The HLRI is a joint venture between the University of Cambridge and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the BHF have invested £10m towards the project.

BHF Professor Nick Morrell from the University of Cambridge, who is Interim Director of the Institute said:

“Building work on the HLRI has continued safely and, combined with good weather over the summer months, means that it has shot up from a hole in the ground in January when construction began,”

“Heart and lung diseases affect many millions of people worldwide and the numbers are growing. Institutes such as the HLRI which will focus on these big health challenges are urgently needed. The discoveries made by our researchers will deliver major benefits to the public through improvements in public health, new approaches to diagnosing and treating disease, and new medicines.”

Research never more important

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, our Medical Director said:

“We are delighted that the building of this centre is a step closer to completion and look forward to seeing it drive our ambitious research programme into heart and circulatory diseases. This centre will bring together world-leading scientists from multiple disciplines to foster collaboration and accelerate the transformation of discoveries in the laboratory to treatments available at a patient's bedside.

“Covid-19 has put people with heart and circulatory conditions at greater risk than ever and this research has never been more important."

New diagnostics and treatments

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation said:

"The Cambridge Heart and Lung Research Institute promises immense benefit to so many. It will bring new diagnostics and therapeutics from the laboratory to the clinic which will be of huge benefit to patients. This world-leading initiative would not be possible without our generous supporters whose investment in future treatments ultimately saves and improves lives in the UK and globally."

The impact of Covid-19 on our ability to fundraise means we expect to have to cut our life saving research in half. Slowing down now would put even more lives at stake. At a time when hearts need help more than ever, we urgently need your support.

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