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Why Grand Challenges?

Grand Challenges are time‑bound, mission‑driven research programmes, funded at scale. They unite world-class teams around a single, urgent goal. By aligning ambition, expertise, and funding at the right time, we can accelerate progress for those who need it most.

BHF-funded researcher sat at a desk looking at a computer

The challenge we face

Every 3 minutes, someone in the UK dies from cardiovascular disease. For the first time in a generation, the picture is worsening. Premature deaths have been rising for the first time in 50 years, inequalities are widening, and an overstretched NHS faces growing pressures. Many of the most urgent challenges in heart health now demand big leaps forward in our understanding, not small, isolated advances.

A moment of opportunity

At the same time advances in areas like AI, regenerative medicine, and advanced imaging — coupled with new tools and deeper clinical insight — are creating opportunities that were unimaginable a decade ago. Together, these developments are shifting the boundaries of what is possible.

Backing bigger breakthroughs, faster

When the stakes are this high, how we fund matters as much as what we fund.

As the UK's largest independent funder of cardiovascular research, BHF supports excellent science from fundamental discovery to clinical trials.

Cardiovascular Grand Challenges will complement BHF’s wider funding portfolio by accelerating progress in focused areas when the time is right to make the greatest impact for those affected by cardiovascular disease.

What makes the Cardiovascular Challenge unique?

Over the next 5 years, BHF will launch a series of Grand Challenges, each focussed on a distinct theme where scientific opportunity, patient need and the potential for impact clearly align. Each challenge will:

  • Clock

    Be time-bound and mission-driven

    to accelerate progress to a solution.

  • 3

    Bring together interdisciplinary, world-class teams

    to tackle challenges no single field could solve alone.

  • Piggy

    Provide up to £10 million in funding

    to unlock ambitious ideas.

  • Arrow

    Deliver real progress

    for people affected by cardiovascular disease.

Introducing our first Grand Challenge

Artificial intelligence is one of the most powerful technologies that can transform how cardiovascular disease is understood, prevented, diagnosed and treated. This Grand Challenge has the power to accelerate treatments and practices thought impossible 10 years ago.

Discover the AI Grand Challenge

Learn more about Grand Challenges

Application information for researchers

Discover all our detailed information to apply to the AI Grand Challenge, including eligibility, application guidelines, timelines, and FAQs.

How to apply

Donors and partners

We need the support of visionary leaders and partners to make Grand Challenges a reality. Join our growing community of donors and partners.

Partner with us

The first Grand Challenge

BHF is investing £10m in harnessing AI to seize a major opportunity in heart disease research.

Learn more about the challenge
To find out more, or to support British Heart Foundation’s work, please visit www.bhf.org.uk. You can speak to one of our cardiac nurses by calling our helpline on 0808 802 1234 (freephone), Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. For general customer service enquiries, please call 0300 330 3322, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

British Heart Foundation is a registered Charity No. 225971. Registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No. 699547. Registered office at Greater London House, 180 Hampstead Road, London NW1 7AW. Registered as a Charity in Scotland No. SC039426