The accelerator award funding will help to address the increasing problem of heart failure and how this 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 Trust and the University of Leeds 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 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.
“This funding will go a long way to advancing our understanding of the causes of heart and circulatory diseases, particularly the links between Type 2 Diabetes and heart failure.
“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.
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.”
Picture credit: Andy Lord.