Groundbreaking new centre will turbocharge research and treatment for patients with artery disease

University of Leicester experts have been awarded nearly £2 million to set up a global vascular research centre.

The funding, from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Professorships scheme, will support the creation of a ground breaking new programme called CIRCULIFE, giving patients with artery problems in the legs or main body artery the right medicines, lifestyle advice and care at the right time. 

CIRCULIFE aims to help patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) live longer, healthier lives and will fund a team of researchers, doctors, and patients working together to design simple checklists, apps, exercise advice, and patient-friendly materials. 

Leading the new centre, based at the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, will be NIHR Research Professor for Vascular Surgery Professor Athanasios Saratzis, from the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, who said: “Too many people with arterial disease don’t get the right medicines or lifestyle support in order to improve their condition and overall health. By creating practical tools for patients and healthcare staff, the research will improve treatment, prevent amputations, and save lives, not just in the UK but internationally.”

An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is a balloon-like swelling of the major vessel that supplies blood to the body, running from the heart down to the chest and stomach. There are currently no treatments that can stop an aneurysm developing or growing. If an AAA becomes too large, it can burst causing massive internal bleeding. Around 80 per cent of people with a ruptured AAA die and the condition is responsible for more than 3,000 deaths in the UK each year.

Currently scientists do not understand how they form and which ones are likely to burst so patients are closely monitored through regular ultrasound scans.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (called PAD) is a long-term condition where the arteries in the lower limbs become narrowed or blocked due to a build-up of a substance called plaque. One in five people over the age of sixty in the UK are estimated to have PAD but, although the condition is common, many members of the public have either never heard of it or know very little about it. PAD can lead to significant long-term health issues, including chronic pain in the legs and feet, non-healing wounds, lower limb amputation, and reduced lifespan.

Professor Saratzis said: “This funding over the next five years will help establish the centre in Leicester, bringing together international experts from Europe, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Asia so that we can adapt the programme for different healthcare systems. 

“This will enable us to build on years of work around AAA and PAD; we will be able to create something that can truly change how we care for people with artery diseases. Having personally faced serious health challenges, this award also feels like a recognition of resilience and dedication, and it will allow me to make a lasting difference to patients’ lives.”