Past News
New Centre to target health and well being of children and young people
12 May 2009
Children and young people in the UK are set to benefit from a new centre of excellence focused on tackling health issues of most concern to them. The new Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer), which launches on Wednesday 13 May, is a joint venture by the Universities of Cardiff, Bristol and Swansea.
Human stem cells promote healing of diabetic ulcers
20 April 2009
Scientists in Bristol have found that human foetal stem cells can effectively be used to treat back leg ischaemic ulcers in a model of type 1 diabetes.
Blood transfusions after cardiac surgery - are they necessary?
15 April 2009
Blood transfusions carried out after cardiac surgery could be unnecessary and might cause health complications for patients. Thanks to a £1 million grant by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme a new research study will investigate this issue.
£1.9 million to improve quality of care for heart patients
4 February 2009
People suffering from angina or heart attacks are set to benefit from a major investigation by the University of Bristol into their quality of care. The research will be funded by £1,935,000 from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and is a collaboration between Bristol University, University College London and Queen Mary University of London.
Protein could prevent blocked arteries
9 December 2008
For the first time, researchers have found that a modified form of a naturally occurring protein, N-cadherin, could prevent blocked arteries. Blocked arteries are a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Scientists hope European grant can improve healthy ageing
1 December 2008
Why does wound-healing deteriorate with advanced age? This issue will be addressed thanks to a research grant of nearly €11 million from the European Commission (EC).
Stem cell therapies for heart disease – one step closer
30 October 2008
New research from the University of Bristol brings stem cell therapies for heart disease one step closer.
New signpost to clinical trial expertise
29 October 2008
A new comprehensive online resource listing national expertise in the design and conduct of clinical trials is launched today. The UKCRC Registered Clinical Trials Units website provides, for the first time, centralised information on Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) in the UK – including the Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration (BRTU) at the University of Bristol.
The obesity solution: common sense or complex problem?
15 October 2008
With a quarter of people in the UK obese, how can one of the biggest challenges threatening the country’s future health be addressed? This will be the focus of a free public lecture at Bristol University next week.
The UK's biggest serial killer
6 September 2008
Every two minutes someone in the UK has a heart attack and Liverpool has one of the highest rates of heart disease in the country. New research suggests drugs targeting a bad type of white blood cell, a macrophage, which causes plaque rupture, could prevent heart attacks without affecting the normal ability of white blood cells to fight infections.
Paddling (and drumming) to victory
24 July 2008
A team of 17 staff and students from across the University, with friends and family members, came second in the Bath Dragon Boat Race earlier this month. Two University teams – Bristol Allsorts and The Motley Crew – took part in the charity event, between them raising more than £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation.
New therapies revealed for diabetes-induced microvascular disease
17 July 2008
New findings from Bristol scientists could lead to future treatments to prevent lower limb amputations in diabetes - which currently affect 100 people a week in the UK (source Diabetes UK).
Disruption of blood sugar levels after heart surgery is common
8 July 2008
A study reveals today that inadequate blood sugar control in patients having heart surgery is associated with a four fold increase in post-surgery death and major complications - and that the blood sugar disturbances occur in patients with and without diabetes.
Be part of the solution
11 June 2008
British Heart Foundation (BHF) researchers Dr Elinor Griffiths and Dr Andy James and the rest of the team at the Bristol Heart Institute joined up with BHF fundraisers Paul Bancroft and Lucy Culverhouse to launch the BHF Help a Heart Campaign in Bristol this week [Monday 9 June] at Bristol University.
New research unit tackles number one killer
9 April 2008
United Bristol Healthcare Trust has been awarded £3.8 million for ground-breaking research into treatments for cardiovascular disease to will create the Bristol Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease.
Life or death for the heart?
31 March 2008
Scientists in Bristol have been awarded over £800,000 by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to investigate the mechanisms responsible for determining whether heart cells live or die following conditions like a heart attack or cardiac surgery.
Over a £million for heart research
12 March 2008
Scientists in Bristol have been awarded more than a million pounds by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) as part of a £6 million boost for heart research in the UK.
Bristol academic to open the BHF's Ashton Court “mud run”
5 March 2008
A University of Bristol heart disease specialist will open the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) “mud run” at Ashton Court this Sunday [March 9]. Andrew Newby, British Heart Foundation Professor of Vascular Cell Biology, and a team of scientists and clinicians from the Bristol Heart Institute will be taking part in the run, to raise money for the BHF.
£5 million to improve the nation's health
29 January 2008
A collaboration between the Universities of Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea has been awarded £5 million by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) to establish a Centre of Excellence for research into public health.
White coats get muddy for the British Heart Foundation
15 January 2008
Researchers from the Bristol Heart Institute donned their lab coats and trainers to launch a new fun run to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
Major BHF Fellowship for Dr Johnson
14 December 2007
Dr Jason Johnson from the Bristol Heart Institute has been awarded a major Fellowship from the British Heart Foundation.
Red blood cell transfusions under scrutiny
27 November 2007
Bristol scientists have found that red blood cell transfusions given to people having heart surgery could increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
At the cutting edge - recently funded projects
19 November 2007
The competition for funding is fierce, with only very best proposals maturing into a project.
Heart attacks and nerves
15 November 2007
Scientists have found a naturally occurring protein, known as nerve growth factor, can dramatically improve the survival of heart cells.
BSCR Young Investigators Meeting Bristol September 15th and 16th 2008:
"Cell Signalling in Cardiovascular Disease: Life or Death"
[posted 13th June 2008]
The Autumn Meeting of the British Society for Cardiovascualr Research (BSCR) will be held in Bristol on September 15th and 16th 2008. The meeting will give a forum for early career scientists such as PhD and MD students, and post-doctoral scientists within 7 years of gaining a higher degree, the opportunity to highlight their research findings regarding the cellular mechanisms that underlie cardiovascular disease.
More information on the BSCR website>>
Prof. Andrew Halestrap Awarded FMedSci
[posted 13th June 2008]
In recognition of his contribution to research into mitochondria and membrane transporters, Andrew Halestrap has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. The Academy promotes advances in medical science and campaigns to ensure these are translated into healthcare benefits for society. The Academy’s Fellows are the United Kingdom’s leading medical scientists from hospitals, academia, industry and the public service. Fellows are selected primarily for their exceptional contribution to the advancement of medical science, so as to bring about advances in human health and welfare.
Dr. Cressida Beeching Wins Young Investigator Award.
[posted 8th April 2008]
Dr. Cressida Beeching, of the Bristol Heart Institute, won first prize in the Young Investigators competition at the British Atherosclerosis Society Spring Meeting (3rd-4th April 2008). This prestigious prize is sponsored by the British Heart Foundation. Dr. Beeching was awarded the prize after presenting her work on a potential strategy to reduce atherosclerosis.
Dr. Jason Johnson awarded BHF Intermediate Fellowship to investigate causes and prevention of heart attacks and strokes.
[posted 13th December 2007]
Dr. Jason Johnson (Bristol Heart Institute) has been awarded a major Fellowship form the British Heart Foundation (BHF). The Fellowships are awarded to outstanding young scientists to help them become independent researchers. Dr. Johnson was awarded over £365K for 4 years, which includes salary for a technician.
Read more>>
Dr. Christopher Jackson elected Secretary of the British Society for Cardiovascular Research (BSCR)
[posted 5th December 2007]
Dr. Chris Jackson of the Bristol Heart Institute will take over as Secretary of the British Society for Cardiovascular Research (BSCR) from January 1st 2008.
Read more>>
Red blood cell transfusions under scrutiny
[posted 27 November 2007]Dr. Gavin Murphy and colleagues at the Bristol Heart Institute (BRI) found that red blood cell transfusions given to people having heart surgery could increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, and therefore do more harm than good.
Published in the latest issue [November 27] of the journal Circulation, the study looked at the association between red blood cell transfusion and adverse outcomes in over 8,500 cardiac surgery patients over eight years.
Heart attacks and nerves: lessons form neuroscience in treating heart disease.
[posted 15th November 2007]
Scientists have found a naturally occurring protein, known as nerve growth factor, can dramatically improve the survival of heart cells. Nerve growth factor (NGF) was once thought to act only on nerve cells in the body, but this study shows that it can have a protective effect on heart muscle cells in a heart attack model – the first time this has been shown.
The research, published in the current online issue of the journal Cell Death and Differentiation, was funded by the British Heart Foundation and led by Dr Costanza Emanueli, Senior Research Fellow at Bristol University and her colleagues at the Bristol Heart Institute.
Daniel Towie, a 3rd year medical student, has been awarded a highly competitive scholarship from the national charity Heart Research UK
[posted 12th October 2007]
The scholarships, worth £7,000 each, were awarded to 7 medical students from different regions of the UK who wished to undertake a research project relating to cardiovascular disease. Daniel was chosen to represent Bristol University, in competition with other students in the region, and is the first Bristol student to be awarded one of the scholarships.
Physiological Society Prize Lectures to be given by Nina Balthasar
[posted 10th October 2007]
NINA BALTHASAR has been selected to give The Physiological Society 2008 G.L. Brown Prize Lectures.
Nina Balthasar has been chosen as the recipient of the Society's 2008 G.L. Brown Prize Lectures. This award was instituted in 1975 in memory of Professor Sir Lindor Brown and is a peripatetic lecture aimed at a younger audience in order to stimulate an interest in physiology.
Visit Nina Balthasar's research page, and the website of The Physiological Society
New research suggests hearts are experts at self-preservation
[posted 1st October 2007]
Bristol researchers have identified a heart protection mechanism in mice that surgeons and cardiologists may be able to exploit to improve treatments for patients in future.The research, published in the October issue of the American journal Critical Care Medicine, was funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and conducted by Saadeh Suleiman, Professor of Cardiac Physiology at the University of Bristol, and his colleagues at the Bristol Heart Institute. It describes surprising responses of the heart to mock cardiac surgery in a mouse model. When the heart was stopped and restarted - mimicking the conditions used in most heart bypass surgery - scientists found that hearts with coronary disease from genetically modified mice were more resistant to damage than hearts without coronary disease.
First ever surgical trial of its kind gets the go-ahead
[posted 22nd June 2007]
In the first trail of its kind in the world, 60 patients who have recently suffered a major heart attack will be injected with selected stem cells from their own bone marrow during routine coronary bypass surgery.
The Bristol trial will test whether the stem cells will repair heart muscle cells damaged by the heart attack, by preventing late scar formation and hence impaired heart contraction.
Dr Raimondo Ascione from the University of Bristol and colleagues at the Bristol Heart Institute (BHI) have been awarded a grant of £210,000 from the British Heart Foundation to conduct the clinical trial.
BHF Professors encourage support of Bristol Fun Run
[posted 18th June 2007]
BHF Professors Gianni Angelini and Andrew Newby urged Bristolians to support the harbourside fun run on 27th June in an article in the Evening Post. Over 850 people have already signed up for the event, but the BHF would like over 1200 to make it the biggest fun run in Bristol. Prof Angelini said in the article that "Bristol is lucky to have two research professors funded by the charity, which is a good reason to support the fun run".
Sign up for the fun run at the BHF website>>>
Read the full Evening Post article (0.5 KB pdf file)>>>
Competition to design a new BHI logo
[posted 7th June 2007]
The Bristol Heart Institute (BHI) is launching a competition to design a new logo. This will be used on BHI publications, letterheads and this website. The logo therefore needs to be easily recognisable, and designed with this use in mind. Further details>>>
Inaugural lecture by Paolo Madeddu 24th May 2007:
"Stem cells to regenerate arterial vessels: experimental and clinical evidences"
[posted 22nd May 2007]
5:15pm LT1, School of Chemistry, Cantocks Close
Paolo Madeddu is Professor of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, Bristol Heart Institute.
The worldwide epidemic of ischemic disease urgently requires innovative treatments. This lecture will address the concept that stem cells that are present in adult tissues can be explanted and manipulated to accomplish curative tasks in human diseases, with particular focus on peripheral ischemia, myocardial infarction and diabetes.
Sue Baic wins the Rose Simmonds Award
[posted 17th April 2007]
Sue Baic, along with three other colleagues working on the same project has won the British Dietetic Association Rose Simmonds Award. "Rose Simmonds was a leading pioneer in dietetics and a person of great character. The Rose Simmonds Award was at one time the only BDA Award. It has an honourable beginning and a long history and deserves to be the Association's most prestigious Award. The Award for the year 2007 will be given for:A DIETITIAN'S PUBLISHED SCIENTIFIC WORK IN 2006
Sue won the award for her part in Diet Trials and publication of a paper in the British Medical Journal:
Truby H, Baic, SM, de Looy A, Fox, KR & et al. 'Randomised controlled trial of four commercial weight loss programmes in the UK: initial findings from the BBC "diet trials"', British Medical Journal, 332, (pp. 1309-1311), 2006. ISSN: 0959-8146
Sue will receive the award at a BDA conference dinner in Belfast.
Blame the brain for high blood pressure
[posted 16th April 2007]
The novel idea that one cause of high blood pressure lies within the brain, and not the heart or blood vessels, has been put forward by scientists at the University of Bristol and is published this week in the journal Hypertension.Professor Julian Paton and his colleagues Hidefumi Waki and Sergey Kasparov, have discovered a new protein, JAM-1 (junctional adhesion molecule-1), which is located in the walls of blood vessels in the brain.
PhD student wins 2nd prize in national writing competition
Cressida Beeching, a postgraduate student at the BRI (supervised by Dr. Sarah George), won 2nd prize in an annual writing competition organised by the BHF. The remit was for students to present their work in a way that was interesting an informative to the public. Charmaine Griffiths (press officer for the BHF) said that all the entries were "of the highest standard" and that the panel of judges was "highly impressed" by the entries.
You can view the full article here.