Research
Our mission
The mission of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences is to undertake bench-to-bedside research, education and training, and clinical practice that improves the health and wellbeing of patients and the public.
Who we are
The Department of Cardiovascular Sciences currently comprises around 124 staff and 73 postgraduate students. We have laboratory and clinical research facilities at Glenfield Hospital, the regional cardiac centre, including the £12.5 million state-of-the-art University of Leicester British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Research Centre, as well research facilities at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and the Henry Wellcome Building.
We host two BHF-funded Chairs (Cardiology: formerly held by Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, now Medical Director of the BHF; Cardiac Surgery: Professor Gavin Murphy), and a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease. We have strong links with the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, where senior clinical academics provide leadership in patient care, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate medical teaching and training.
What we do
We have a reputation for excellence in cardiovascular research. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, Cardiovascular Sciences contributed significantly to the University’s Clinical Medicine (UoA1) submission; over 70% of research was classified as internationally excellent (22% world leading), and 2 of the 4 submitted impact studies were cardiovascular and rated 4*.
The work of the Department has contributed to major advances in the treatment of coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, hypertension and stroke, and at a fundamental level has improved our understanding of the causes, including genetic predisposition, of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, our expertise in genetics, novel biomarkers and clinical trials maps to the Institute for Precision Health.
The overarching strategy for cardiovascular research is based on two main principles:
- To integrate high quality basic and clinical science research
- To focus on common cardiovascular diseases and on questions of direct clinical relevance and impact
Research team structure
All academic staff and students in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences are a member of at least one of the following research themes:
- Evidence Synthesis Study Design
- Laboratory Science
- Clinical Science
- Implementation Science
Cardiovascular Precision and Stratified Medicine
Cardiovascular Protection and Intervention
You can also learn more about how our research is being used to improve clinical outcomes and about our links with industry.