The British Heart Foundation has funded a Leeds-based project which will improve understanding of the links between Type 2 Diabetes and heart failure.
The Accelerator Award funding will help to address the increasing problem of how heart failure is exacerbated by metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
The Leeds approach investigates how heart failure and diabetes affect the body and its responses with a focus on enhancing understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of cardiometabolic disease.
The collaborative project is bringing together a diverse community of researchers at the University and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), to provide integrated research across the whole spectrum of cardiometabolic disease.
The programme is also integrated with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Insight programme for Yorkshire and the Humber and the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). This collaborative response is key to making research data available to clinicians to avoid duplication and achieve treatment targets.
Professor Khalid Naseem, Institute Director, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, said: “It was a great privilege to host Professor Bryan Williams OBE to launch the British Heart Foundation Accelerator Centre at the University of Leeds.
“We are extremely grateful for this support which will allow us, in collaboration with colleagues in LTHT, to focus on gaining a deep understanding of the causes of heart failure and its links with Type 2 diabetes and develop new treatments for people living with these conditions.”
The University of Leeds is one of nine UK universities to receive the Accelerator Award funding under the British Heart Foundation’s Research Excellence Scheme in recognition of internationally leading research on the link between cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes.
Leeds' research team and proposed projects were exceptional and stood out amongst the tough competition for funding.
This project will use a holistic approach to investigate how the two interact with one another and aim to transform the quality of life of patients.
This week, the University officially launched the British Heart Foundation Accelerator Award, at Cloth Hall Court.
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Leeds' research team and proposed projects were exceptional and stood out amongst the tough competition for funding.
“We are very happy to be funding their bid, which recognises the incredible research already happening at Leeds and will help to establish it as a global leader in the field.
“We hope this funding will help unlock lifesaving discoveries that can turn the tide on the devastation caused by these conditions.”
A Future at Leeds session during the event highlighted a group of emerging talented researchers including Dr Charlie Scarff, Dr Kathryn Griffin, Dr Amanda MacCannell, Dr Cedric Duval and Dr Marlous Hall who spoke about their research work.
At the University of Leeds we are developing the next generation of scientists who will help advance our knowledge and unlock new world-leading treatments for cardiovascular disease caused by diabetes.
Dr Charlie Scarff is an Academic Fellow in Structural Biology in the Leeds Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine at the University of Leeds and British Heart Foundation Jacqueline Murray Coomber Fellow.
Dr Scarff spoke about how understanding the molecular mechanisms that underpin heart muscle disease will help to enable better therapies.
Her research is focused on inherited heart disease, which is the most common cause of heart failure in young people and explores new treatments to address this.
Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at the University of Leeds, said: “At the University of Leeds we are developing the next generation of scientists who will help advance our knowledge and unlock new world-leading treatments for cardiovascular disease caused by diabetes.
“By working together with our regional partners, we will improve the lives of people who are affected by these conditions across the globe.”
Professor Philip Wood, Chief Executive, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This funding is a significant step forward in tackling the growing challenge of heart failure and its links to Type 2 Diabetes.
“By bringing together experts from across Leeds, we can translate cutting-edge research into real-world clinical improvements, ultimately leading to better outcomes and addressing the significant inequalities in health for the Leeds and West Yorkshire population.
“This collaboration reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class care informed by latest research advancements.”
Further information
For more information, please contact Rebecca Hurrey at r.hurrey@leeds.ac.uk in the University of Leeds Press Office.
Picture Credit: Andy Lord. L-R: Dr Silvia Pedroni, Director of Operations (Medical) at the British Heart Foundation, Professor Mark Kearney, Interim Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Dean of Medicine at the University of Leeds, Professor Bryan Williams and Professor Khalid Naseem.