We are pleased to announce that Gerry McCann has been appointed BHF Professor of Cardiology, the first appointment made through our refreshed research Professorship funding scheme.
Professor McCann is a consultant cardiologist and researcher at the University of Leicester. His research focuses on using heart scans, particularly MRI scans, to improve treatment and management for patients with or at risk of developing heart conditions.
Alongside his BHF Professorship, Professor McCann also leads the BHF-funded EASY-AS study, a £2.8 million clinical trial investigating the best time for people with aortic valve narrowing (aortic stenosis) to have surgery.
Improve care for patients
Commenting on his new appointment, Professor McCann said: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award from the British Heart Foundation. It recognises the excellent work we have done over the last 15 years and will be a springboard for our research going forward.
“Through it, we plan to focus on identifying early markers of disease, develop advanced imaging tools, and accelerate new treatments for conditions such as diabetes‑related heart failure, aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease.
“By bringing together clinical data, imaging, proteomics, genomics and machine learning, we aim to revolutionise how patients at risk of cardiovascular disease are identified, monitored and treated. Our ultimate goal is to improve the care of thousands of future patients with heart disease.”
Pushing the boundaries
Professor Bryan Williams, our Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, said: “We’re delighted to announce Gerry McCann as a BHF Professor of Cardiology. During his career Professor McCann has established himself as an excellent researcher, pushing the boundaries of how imaging can be used to help diagnose and study heart conditions.
“We have supported his research for nearly two decades and we are excited to see this award expand his work, enabling him to continue improving the lives of heart patients.
“Professor McCann is the first to be awarded funding through our refreshed BHF Research Professorship scheme. These awards, made over a maximum of ten years, are pivotal part of our new strategy to build capacity in cardiovascular research and support exceptional leadership. Professor McCann, along with BHF Professors yet to be appointed, will champion and provide strategic leadership in cardiovascular research across the UK in the coming years.”
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