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.

</p> <p>

Theme Lead

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

Meet our researchers

</p> <p>

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.

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.

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…

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 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.

Bluesky

Contact Us

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

Tel: 01223 348490

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

13 Feb

What is #Research #Culture and why should you be interested in it? Why not come along and find out...Thursday 27 February 16.15 - 18.00 ⬇️⬇️
Book Now >> patojomcpeake@thisinstitute.cam.ac.uk
@Cambridge_Uni @CUH_NHS @THIS_Institute

Reply on Twitter 1890067126679163351 Retweet on Twitter 1890067126679163351 Like on Twitter 1890067126679163351 Twitter 1890067126679163351

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

13 Feb

New #research from Cambridge @Cambridge_Uni shows the need to prioritise #vaccine boosters for those with weakned immune systems to #prevent emergence of new #Covid variants.
@CUH_NHS @NIHRresearch @Gates_Cambridge #vasculitisUK

>> To find out more:

Reply on Twitter 1890034902571339816 Retweet on Twitter 1890034902571339816 2 Like on Twitter 1890034902571339816 6 Twitter 1890034902571339816

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

12 Feb

Involved in research? Whatever your role/discipline, please spend 15-20 mins filling out a survey https://bit.ly/41aZ69J from @EthicsSciPublicKavli at @Cambridge_Uni on science engagement with the public? @CamUniEngage @engageWCS @StellenboschUni @CUH_NHS

Reply on Twitter 1889650882251284935 Retweet on Twitter 1889650882251284935 2 Like on Twitter 1889650882251284935 3 Twitter 1889650882251284935

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

11 Feb

Happy #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience
To commemorate this annual celebration, we interviewed three women from our Cambridge BRC. Look out for Rona Smith's full interview on our website in the coming days..
@CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @NIHRresearch @UNESCO @WomenScienceDay

Reply on Twitter 1889373404295279019 Retweet on Twitter 1889373404295279019 Like on Twitter 1889373404295279019 3 Twitter 1889373404295279019

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

11 Feb

Happy #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience
For this global celebration of women in science, we interviewed 3 women from our Cambridge BRC. Look out for Jo McPeake's interview on our website in the coming days
@CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @NIHRresearch @UNESCO @WomenScienceDay

Reply on Twitter 1889372716592963658 Retweet on Twitter 1889372716592963658 1 Like on Twitter 1889372716592963658 5 Twitter 1889372716592963658

NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre @cambridgebrc ·

11 Feb

Happy #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience
To celebrate this global day, we interviewed three women from our Cambridge BRC. Look out for Deborah's full interview on our website in the coming days..
@CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @NIHRresearch @BEARS_CI @UNESCO @WomenScienceDay

Reply on Twitter 1889370490432639371 Retweet on Twitter 1889370490432639371 2 Like on Twitter 1889370490432639371 4 Twitter 1889370490432639371

View more Tweets

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease

This Theme’s Focus

Why we need heart and lung research

Theme Lead

Professor Martin Bennett

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

Global spotlight on Cambridge heart trial

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

Researchers awarded prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowships

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

High blood pressure is directly linked to severe COVID-19

Heart surgery delays will cost lives, warns research

Cambridge researchers awarded Fellow status

Cambridge Professors receive NIHR Senior Investigator awards