Fundraising
BHF researchers honoured at 2023 Heart Hero Awards
Two of our researchers have been honoured at this year’s glittering Heart Hero awards.
The awards recognise the awe-inspiring people who have gone above and beyond to make a difference and offer hope to those living with and at risk of heart and circulatory disease, and their loved ones.
Hero of the Year – Professor Elijah Behr
Our Hero of the Year award – which celebrates an incredible individual who has showcased amazing support for our mission – was presented to Professor Elijah Behr, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at St George’s, University of London and St George’s Hospital.
Professor Behr’s research, funded by us, aims to find a cure for Brugada syndrome, a rare inherited heart condition that can cause sudden death. Motivated by his family’s personal experience of sudden death, Professor Behr’s lifesaving research and compassionate approach has had a profound impact, offering hope to individuals affected by cardiac conditions. Having recruited over 1,000 volunteers, Professor Behr and his team are analysing DNA and using high-tech heart scans to help find ways to improve how Brugada syndrome is diagnosed.
"privileged to receive this recognition from the BHF community"
On winning Heart Hero of the Year Professor Elijah Behr says: “I feel tremendously honoured to have won the BHF Hero of the Year award. It’s always nice to get recognised, and it’s particularly touching when it’s recognition from patients. It’s recognition from the BHF community. It gives you a tremendous feeling of satisfaction and humility at the same time. So I’m incredibly honoured to have been nominated for it and to have won.”
Research Story of the Year – Professor Massimo Caputo
The Research Story of the Year award was presented to Professor Massimo Caputo, our Professor of Congenital Heart Surgery at the Bristol Heart Institute. This award celebrates the most inspiring research projects we’ve funded that have hit the headlines this year, as voted for by the public.
"My team and I are delighted"
Professor Caputo’s project, funded by us, has created the first-of-its-kind ‘heart plaster’ to repair abnormalities to the valve in the large blood vessel that controls blood flow from the heart to the lungs. The ‘plaster’ can also mend holes between the two main pumping chambers of the heart and can be used in children. The ‘heart plaster’ could improve the way surgeons treat children living with congenital heart disease, so they don’t need as many open-heart operations.
Professor Caputo said: “My team and I are delighted to win the BHF Research Story of the Year. It’s an amazing recognition of all the work we have done to get to this point, and I want to thank BHF for their continued support.
“For years families have come to us asking why their child needs to go through the same heart operation many times throughout their childhood. Although each operation can be lifesaving, the experience can be extremely stressful for the child and their parents. We believe that our mesenchymal cell patches will be the answer to solve these problems.”
This Christmas, our research is a gift that keeps on living, helping to keep families together and hearts beating for Christmases to come.