BHF Professor Kinya Otsu to take up leadership of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Centre in Japan

We are pleased to announce that BHF Professor Kinya Otsu has been appointed as President of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Centre in Japan. This is a highly prestigious position that required approval by the Japanese government. 

The National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Centre is the only national centre for advanced medical care and research in Japan that focuses on cerebral and cardiovascular diseases.

Professor Otsu was recruited to the BHF Centre of Research Excellence at King’s from Japan nine years ago, with support from a BHF Personal Chair. His research focuses on mechanisms underlying the development of heart failure, with particular emphasis on the roles of cardiomyocyte death and inflammation. 

Professor Otsu said: "I very much appreciate the BHF’s support over the past nine years, which allowed my research at King’s to be incredibly fruitful. I really hope that, going forward, my new role will help facilitate intensive collaboration between cardiovascular researchers in the UK and Japan.”

Significant contribution to research 

During his nine years at KCL, Professor Otsu has made significant contribution to our understanding of heart failure, a devastating condition, affecting a growing number of people in the UK. Despite advances in medical treatments, there is still no cure for this condition – survival rates remain poor and life expectancy is worse than for many cancers.

His background as a clinical cardiologist meant that much of his research had a translational outlook and could ultimately lead to the development of much needed new therapies.  

Our Medical Director, Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, said: “Professor Otsu has made a significant contribution to the understanding of novel  cellular mechanisms that contribute to the development of heart failure. His work is internationally renowned and he has been an excellent researcher and ambassador for the BHF.

 “We wish him the very best as he moves back to his native Japan to take up this leadership role of such prestige and importance, and look forward to working with him to establish impactful international collaborations in research.”