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

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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

A Cambridge trial which may help prevent patients from having repeat heart attacks, will be presented at the 30th European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress, the largest cardiology conference globally.

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

January 29, 2024

People with pulmonary sarcoidosis are being invited to take part in an international clinical trial at Cambridge University Hospitals.

Read more about our researchers who have been awarded AMS Fellowships

Researchers awarded prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowships

May 18, 2023

Four NIHR Cambridge BRC researchers have been elected to the…

Sneezing - Image from Mojpe from Pixabay

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

January 17, 2023

Research supported by NIHR Cambridge BRC has led to a new test…

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

High blood pressure is directly linked to severe COVID-19

November 14, 2022

A new study has shown people with high blood pressure are more likely to be admitted to hospital or die from COVID-19, regardless of other factors such as age, sex, ethnicity or BMI.

Surgery at CUH - Image from Cambridge University Health Partners

Heart surgery delays will cost lives, warns research

June 20, 2022

Urgent action is needed to clear the backlog of people waiting for treatment for severe aortic stenosis as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cambridge researchers awarded Fellow status

May 11, 2022

Eight Cambridge researchers are elected as Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

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Cambridge Professors receive NIHR Senior Investigator awards

March 3, 2022

Professor Emanuele Di Angelantonio and Professor Tamsin Ford have been newly-appointed as Senior Investigators for the NIHR.

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 Cambridge BRC 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

An unbiased lipid phenotyping approach to study the genetic determinants of lipids and their association with coronary heart disease risk factors.

March 19, 2019

Stiffening and ventricular-arterial interaction in the ascending aorta using MRI: ageing effects in healthy humans

February 28, 2019

New genetic signals for lung function highlight pathways and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associations across multiple ancestries.

February 25, 2019

Prenatal exome sequencing analysis in fetal structural anomalies detected by ultrasonography (PAGE): a cohort study.

February 23, 2019

Pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung disease and hypoxia

December 13, 2018

The NIHR Cambridge BRC 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.

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Contact Us

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

Tel: 01223 348490

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

8 Jan

The Cambridge-led IVORY trial has shown that targeting the immune system, by giving a low-dose of aldesleukin, could prevent future heart attacks by nearly 8%.

Learn more about the study >>https://bit.ly/4aLzW6Q

@CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @NIHRresearch @RoyalPapworth

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Milner Therapeutics Institute @themilnerinst ·

6 Jan

📣 The Milner Consortium Call returns with its sixth call for research proposals. Academic researchers – join our Q&A webinar to learn more and ask questions about the Call!

🗓️ 22 Jan ⏰ 10am 📍 Online

🔗 Register: https://ow.ly/5PMb50XCIuF

🔗 More info: http://www.milner.cam.ac.uk/consortiumcall/

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NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

5 Jan

👉 Want to help shape a future trial focused on preventing falls in older people?
👉 Are you an older adult and/or family member/carer? 👉 Free on Wed 21st Jan 2026 at 13.30 for an online group?
👉 Contact James Piercy - james@brainhrc.org
@CUH_NHS @NIHRBrainHRC @Cambridge_Uni

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NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

31 Dec

🎉Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!🎉
Thinking of making a #NewYearsResolution?
Are you interested in giving feedback on the #research we do?
Live in the #EastOfEngland?
Then why not join our Patient & Public Involvement Panel >> https://bit.ly/3LlRX1c
@CUH_NHS

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NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

24 Dec

Merry Christmas and a happy #NewYear from the #NIHR #Cambridge BRC!!
#Thankyou to all our amazing staff, everyone who has supported us and all those who took part in #research this year!
@CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @NIHRresearch

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NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

22 Dec

🥳 As 2025 draws to a close, we’ve put together a snapshot of some of our key research stories over the year.
🥳 We’d like to thank everyone who took part in, or contributed to our research over 2025!
To learn more >>
@CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @NIHRresearch

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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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