A new research institute is set to transform our understanding of obesity, thanks to a £72 million investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC), in partnership with BHF.
The UK-ORI will be dedicated to tackling one of the UK’s most significant health challenges. Our investment will focus on research into the impact of obesity on cardiovascular disease.
The support for UK-ORI, which will help to develop better approaches to obesity prevention and treatment, comes as obesity places a growing burden on individuals, healthcare services and the economy.
Chronic disease
In England alone, there were 8,716 hospital admissions directly attributable to obesity in 2022/23 - a 13 per cent increase on the previous year. During the same period, obesity was a factor in more than 1.2 million hospital admissions - an increase of 8 per cent compared to 2021/22.
Our recent analysis found that, if current trends continue, 170,000 lives in England could be lost to cardiovascular disease linked to excess weight and obesity between 2026 and 2035.
Obesity is linked to many health conditions and cardiovascular disease risk factors, including high blood pressure (hypertension) and unhealthy levels of fat in the blood (including high triglycerides and low high-density lipoproteins (HDL) or 'good' cholesterol). These two factors can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke.
Accelerating impact
The UK-ORI will undertake research into the origins, prevention, treatment, and health consequences of obesity. It will focus on how, and why, it affects some people and not others. It will bring together expertise in biomedical science, medicine, and technology, to develop effective, targeted treatments and improved health outcomes.
Research will also look at the link between obesity and chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Supported by experimental medicine, the institute will test biological mechanisms in people and help to ensure that promising new therapies can be developed safely and effectively.
A key ambition for UK-ORI is to accelerate the translation of research discoveries into real-world health benefits. The institute will strengthen links between academia, industry and healthcare, helping ensure that scientific advances lead more quickly to patient benefit.
Vital work
Our Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Professor Bryan Williams, said: "Obesity is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, linked to tens of thousands of heart attacks and strokes every year in the UK. It is vital that we improve our understanding of how obesity impacts our national health. That's why we're delighted to be partnering with the Medical Research Council to establish the UK Obesity Research Institute.
“Obesity is a complex condition that is too often misunderstood, yet it is one of the biggest drivers of heart disease and stroke. The institute will bring together leading researchers and invest in cutting-edge science, helping to transform our understanding of obesity and accelerate the development of new ways to prevent and treat it - ultimately helping more people to live in good health for longer.”
Complex condition
Professor Patrick Chinnery, MRC Executive Chair, said: “Obesity-related illness costs the NHS £6 billion annually and is a leading cause of preventable premature death. But obesity is not simply a matter of excess body fat or eating too much. It is a complex biological condition involving the interaction of genetics, hormones, the brain, metabolism, behaviour and the environment.
"The UK Obesity Research Institute will bring together world-leading expertise to tackle this challenge from multiple angles, helping us better understand the mechanistic causes of obesity, its links to other serious illnesses and how we can develop more effective ways of preventing and treating it.
"By supporting research that spans discovery science, experimental medicine and translation, we can help deliver the evidence and innovations needed to improve health outcomes for millions of people."
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