Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease

This Theme’s Focus

Better diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks
Reducing lung infections and injury
Remote diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with cardiovascular and respiratory disease

Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are the leading causes of premature death worldwide – in the UK alone, 1 in 4 of us will die from heart disease and 1 in 5 from lung disease. Half of all deaths from heart disease are sudden and unexpected.

In this theme, we will focus on how we can:

Use existing drugs that are proven in other diseases to treat cardiovascular and respiratory disease (known as ‘repurposing’), resulting in faster approval and wider implementation
Use remote monitoring of patient and community-based programmes to get early patient, public and system benefits via better diagnosis, early intervention, improved uptake and reduced admissions
Develop new drugs that are designed to treat complications of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, including lung infections and heart failure
Combine analysis of patient records and diagnostic tests to improve prediction of disease exacerbations and prevent future events.

Why we need heart and lung research

In this short video, cardiovascular and respiratory theme lead Professor Martin Bennet explains the importance of heart and lung research and how researchers are investigating new ways to treat and prevent diseases.

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Theme Leads

Professor Martin Bennett

BHF Professor of Cardiovascular Sciences and Head of the Section of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine.
Email: mrb24@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Dr Mark Toshner

Honorary Consultant and University Lecturer

Email: mrt34@cam.ac.uk

Dr Nicholas Evans

Email: ne214@cam.ac.uk

Meet our researchers

Here are some of the conditions we are researching:

Heart Attack

The commonest cause of heart attack is atherosclerosis, where arteries become clogged with white fatty substances (plaques). We will develop new drugs to treat the effects of atherosclerosis, and new imaging technologies (such as high-tech scans) to follow high-risk patients and treat them before the plaques rupture. We will also examine how we can better treat and rehabilitate patients with heart failure, where the heart doesn’t pump properly after a heart attack or other forms of damage, and identify new drugs to reduce the damage done with each heart attack.

Lung Disease

In respiratory disease, our focus is lung infection, acute lung injury and bronchiectasis (a long-term condition that makes the lungs more vulnerable to infection). Existing treatments do not slow the progression of the conditions, and patients with chronic lung disease, often have worsening of their disease due to infection. Early diagnosis and treatment of infections can stop patients getting worse, limit the need for antibiotics, prevent patients’ being admitted to hospital, and reduce spread of infections.

Small Vessel Stroke

Strokes caused by blockage of small arteries in the brain are called small vessel strokes, and there is currently no treatment for this form of stroke. We are investigating how commonly used drugs could both prevent small artery stroke and reduce the damage done, reducing the disability from stroke.

Artificial Intelligence-based Analysis of Health Records and Diagnostic Tests

We are examining how computer-based examination of large numbers of patient records, blood tests and new scans can accurately predict outcome in lung infections and heart attacks. This approach can both personalise and target appropriate treatment to specific patients, improving their care and better utilising health resources.

Genetic Analysis

We are using powerful new techniques to examine genetic information from both patients and infections to develop new drugs and reduce the spread of lung infections in patients with chronic cardiovascular and respiratory disease.

Latest News

Global spotlight on Cambridge heart trial

August 22, 2024

Cambridge launches clinical trial to test new drug for a rare lung condition

January 29, 2024

Read more about our researchers who have been awarded AMS Fellowships

Researchers awarded prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowships

May 18, 2023

Sneezing - Image from Mojpe from Pixabay

Gone fishing: highly accurate test for common respiratory viruses uses DNA as ‘bait’

January 17, 2023

Patient having their blood test taken at NIHR Cambridge CRF - NIHR BRC: Cambridge image

High blood pressure is directly linked to severe COVID-19

November 14, 2022

Surgery at CUH - Image from Cambridge University Health Partners

Heart surgery delays will cost lives, warns research

June 20, 2022

Cambridge researchers awarded Fellow status

May 11, 2022

image of 2 separate people next to eachtother, a male and a female

Cambridge Professors receive NIHR Senior Investigator awards

March 3, 2022

Previous Next

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease Case Studies

Man holding his chest - by Pexels from Pixabay

The defibrillator that gets under your skin

October 16, 2024

Sudden cardiac death is a major public health issue occurring…

Genetic study identifies genetic mutations in PAH patients

October 16, 2024

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening…

Blue helix: This image was purchased from Abobe Stock with a lifetime usage.

Cambridge researchers develop new tool to map beginnings of heart disease

October 16, 2024

Researchers from the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit at…

Updated risk model helps doctors predict and prevent cardiovascular disease

October 16, 2024

Cambridge researchers supported by NIHR BRC: Cambridge have…

Could a cancer drug be key to helping patients recover from a heart attack?

October 16, 2024

A stage 2 trial is underway in Cambridge to investigate whether…

Distinct risk factors for obsessive and compulsive symptoms in chronic schizophrenia

December 31, 2018

Publication: Psychological Medicine Fernandez-Egea E, Worbe…

Previous Next

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease Publications

Cohort study of cardiovascular safety of different COVID-19 vaccination doses among 46 million adults in England

August 1, 2024

Integration of polygenic and gut metagenomic risk prediction for common diseases

April 4, 2024

Impact of vaccination on the association of COVID-19 with cardiovascular diseases: An OpenSAFELY cohort study

April 4, 2024

A novel human iPSC model of COL4A1/A2 small vessel disease unveils a key pathogenic role of matrix metalloproteinases

November 20, 2023

Replacing device-measured sedentary time with physical activity is associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease regardless of genetic risk

September 1, 2023

The NIHR BRC: Cambridge is part of the NIHR and hosted by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Cambridge. We are at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Europe’s largest health research area.

Contact Us

NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Cambridge
Box 277
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ

Tel: 01223 348490

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre

@cambridgebrc ·

25 Aug

Congrats to @NIHR20 Research Leaders Prizewinners @CambridgeCRF Operations Director Caroline Saunders & @Cambridge_Uni & @CUH_NHS Neurosurgeon Benjamin Davies, who've both won awards for their leadership skills & commitment to patient-centred research: https://bit.ly/4y0HVFx

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National Institute for Health and Care Research

Verified account @nihrresearch ·

21 Aug

Are you looking for guidance on setting up a clinical trial? Look no further!

The #CTToolkit is an interactive colour-coded routemap that provides guidance on legal and best practice requirements. Bursting with advice, it's a must-see for any aspiring researcher ➡️

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Medicine at Cambridge

@medcambridge ·

20 Aug

The Lung Immune Challenge Study, led by @Akhilesh_Jha (@HLRI_Cambridge), has reached a milestone with the final participant completing the first phase designed to investigate how immune systems respond to viral lung infections.

➡️ https://buff.ly/tXrD5v8

@The_MRC @CambridgeBRC

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National Institute for Health and Care Research

Verified account @nihrresearch ·

18 Aug

Learn about two upcoming career development awards that can support you in undertaking short placements in another part of NIHR or a local authority to enhance your research training experience and academic career development.

📅 Join our webinar from 12-1pm on 3 September to

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NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre

@cambridgebrc ·

12 Aug

📣 Only 20 places left for each session❗️

Whether you’re new to PPI, want to improve your knowledge & skills we’ve got the session for you!

These FREE events are only available to East Anglia researchers - tickets for other regions are now fully booked! http://bit.ly/Trg4PPI

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NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre

@cambridgebrc ·

10 Aug

📣 Full day of Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) training available❗️

👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 Are you a health researcher❓
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 New PPI❓
📍 Located in #EastAnglia❓
👍 We’ve got the training day for you!

Join us on 2 Sept 9.30am-4pm, West Hub, Cambridge.
Book https://bit.ly/4yUOx9L

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Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease

This Theme’s Focus

Why we need heart and lung research

Theme Leads

Professor Martin Bennett

Dr Mark Toshner

Dr Nicholas Evans

Here are some of the conditions we are researching:

Heart Attack

Lung Disease

Small Vessel Stroke

Artificial Intelligence-based Analysis of Health Records and Diagnostic Tests

Genetic Analysis

Latest News

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease Case Studies

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease Publications

Contact Us

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