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Reflections of research - 60 years in the making
To celebrate our 60th birthday, we introduced a new historical images category to our annual Reflections of Research competition. These images, submitted by our current and past researchers, help tell the story of the incredible research and health care advances we’ve helped make possible over the past 60 years.
Imaging advances
Dr Michelle Williams, BHF Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh.
This x-ray image of blood vessels in the pelvis was captured in Edinburgh in 1970. On the right you can see blood vessels with blood flowing through them but these are missing on the left, showing that some of the vessels are blocked.
Before modern scanning techniques were developed, looking at blood vessels was a difficult task. In the early 1970s a technique called ‘intraosseous venogram’ was used - dye was injected into the bones of the upper leg, which then drained into the blood vessels of the pelvis. This dye would then show up in the veins on x-ray.
Today, state-of-the-art scanners are used to diagnose heart and circulatory disease, including PET, CT and MRI scanners. Without these, Dr Williams’ work on the heart and blood vessels wouldn’t be possible.
For healthy young hearts
Professor Robert Anderson, former BHF Joseph Levy Professor of Paediatric Cardiac Morphology and Emeritus Professor at University College London.
In 1977, Elliot Shinebourne and Robert Anderson (pictured left) organised an international conference in London, sponsored by the BHF, which brought together experts to discuss advances in paediatric cardiology and paediatric cardiac surgery.
Subsequent events were organised across Europe, and the meetings eventually became an annual event known as ‘Cardiology in the Young’.
Professor Anderson said: “This photograph has poignant memories, since Elliot passed away in November of last year. He was a great talent spotter. In addition to myself, he provided opportunities for many others to develop their ground breaking research with support from the BHF.
“The support of the BHF also enabled Elliot, myself and other clinicians to quickly develop the paediatric cardiology unit at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. Our work there placed the United Kingdom at the forefront of international developments in the field of congenital heart disease.”
Before 1961 the majority of babies born with congenital heart disease didn’t survive to their first birthday. Thanks to our research, including Professor Anderson’s work on mapping the anatomy of heart defects, now eight in ten babies born with congenital heart disease survive to adulthood.
Funding the latest technology
Professor Alan Daugherty, Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Kentucky and Editor-in-Chief, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Journal.
Published in the Bath Chronicle in 1981, this picture shows researchers and clinical staff, including Alan Daugherty (second on left), then a BHF-funded postdoctoral fellow, holding an electrocardiogram (ECG) recording machine.
The picture was taken at an event to promote Alan’s BHF Fellowship and the purchase of the machine, which was funded by us for the cardiology unit at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
An ECG is a simple test which detects electrical signals generated in every heartbeat. Today, they’re used on a regular basis, and help reveal high blood pressure, the effects of heart drugs, and can even show evidence of a previous heart attack.
These days, ECG machines are more compact and capable than the one pictured, and they continue to be one of the most frequently used pieces of medical technology.
Alongside funding research into the latest technologies, we also support over 1,700 researchers across the UK, including hundreds of early career scientists. Professor Daugherty says “The BHF award I received at a formative stage of my career has my particular gratitude. My career without that award would have been a lot less encouraging”.
Also pictured, centre, is BHF alumnus Dr Brian Woodward who supervised and mentored Professor Daugherty and subsequently Professor Metin Avkiran, our Associate Medical Director.
A global research power
Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, BHF Trustee and Regius Professor of Medicine, University of Glasgow.
Pictured here (second from left) is Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak with Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, at the official opening of the new BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre in 2006.
Professor Dominiczak was the driving force behind the Centre - she was its Director from 2006 to 2010, and a BHF Professor for 13 years. In 2016, she was awarded a Damehood for services to cardiovascular and medical science.
Named in recognition of the £5 million contribution made by us, the centre has over 150 research and technical staff working on the latest heart research from genetics to imaging. It’s currently one of six BHF Centre’s of Research Excellence, supporting research that will help beat heart break forever.