CVD contributes to more than 170,000 deaths annually but does not affect everyone equally. Higher risk groups include ethnic minority communities and people living in deprived communities*.
The NIHR Cardiovascular Disease Inequalities Challenge Consortium, in partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), will focus on tackling inequalities in these higher risk groups. It also seeks to address inequalities in CVD outcomes between women and men.
The University will work in partnership with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) and NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (NHS BNSSG ICB) as part of the award.
The consortium will generate evidence and innovative solutions that deliver improved detection and monitoring of undiagnosed or poorly managed high blood pressure and high levels of bad cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) to save thousands of lives and reduce inequalities.
The consortium will also have a major focus on developing research capacity. by developing an innovative and diverse programme of career development opportunities to inspire, develop and support the next generation of researchers.
The announcement is among NIHR’s responses to delivering the Government’s health and growth mission and NHS 10-year plan, resulting in fewer lives lost to the biggest killers, with the shift from sickness to prevention to move towards a fairer Britain where everyone lives well for longer.
The nine universities that successfully applied to become part of the consortium will collaborate with many other organisations around the UK including charities, social enterprise organisations, local councils, NHS Trusts and industry, to ensure system-wide change can be delivered. They nine universities are:
- University of Bristol
- University of Glasgow
- University of Leeds
- University of Surrey
- Swansea University
- University of Birmingham
- King's College London
- University of Ulster
- Imperial College London
Members have been selected to span the UK, ensuring the consortium’s activities will benefit populations including communities in rural areas and coastal communities, as well as in urban-deprived populations. They bring a wealth of experience in working with under-served populations including travelling communities, young people, and people with learning disabilities, and accessing communities who may not engage with standard NHS services.
The research projects will begin in autumn 2026. The success of the consortium’s health outcomes objectives will be enabled by research activities such as leveraging wearables and other digital health technologies, and innovative public health messaging and education, including supporting sustained behaviour change.
Dr Rachel Johnson, Associate Professor in Primary Care at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care, who is the lead on the consortium for Bristol, said: “Heart disease and stroke can have devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities, and we know that people who are socio-economically disadvantaged are more likely to be affected. We can improve outcomes if we identify people who are at higher risk early and help them to reduce their risk. This consortium is an exciting opportunity to work with leading UK researchers and community partners to reduce the number of lives lost to heart disease and stroke.”
Professor Jeremy Tavaré, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Bristol, added: “We’re proud to be part of this major national effort to tackle inequalities in cardiovascular disease. By working with NIHR, the British Heart Foundation and partners across the UK, we will generate the evidence and innovations needed to improve early detection, prevention and outcomes for communities most affected. This investment will also help develop the next generation of researchers, strengthening the UK’s capacity to deliver impactful, equitable health research.”
Dr Angus Nightingale, Consultant Cardiologist and Research Lead for Bristol Heart Institute at UHBW, and Clinical Senior Lecturer in Cardiology at Bristol Medical School: (THS), said: “We are delighted to be partnering with local and national colleagues in this exciting cardiovascular disease inequalities challenge consortium. This will create new opportunities to use the skills of clinicians and researchers to identify people in our locality who, through no fault of their own, are at much higher risk of strokes and heart attacks because of high blood pressure of cholesterol - often without even being aware of these risks. We can use this information to work with our local communities to find novel ways to improve these critical risk factors and so improve overall health and well-being."
Paul Roy, Associate Director for Research at NHS BNSSG ICB, added: “We are thrilled to have supported the application that led to this award. This award is a demonstration of the strength of the long‑standing partnership between the University of Bristol and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board. By working together, we are able to secure research investment that is grounded in real population need.
“The consortium led by Dr Rachel Johnson supports the ICB aim of supporting health and care research that makes a difference to those who need it most. Through this partnership, we can ensure the funding is used to address persistent inequalities in cardiovascular disease and translate evidence into practical action across the health and care system.”
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR, explained: “Cardiovascular disease causes 170,000 deaths annually in the UK, with a large long-term disease burden on the NHS. But it can be preventable with the right early intervention. This investment from the NIHR is one of the most ambitious attempts to tackle the root cause of inequalities of one the biggest killers.
“Now in our 20th year, the NIHR continues to drive life-changing research that matters. From earlier diagnosis and prevention in the community, to better treatments and improved quality of care, NIHR is funding and delivering research that tackles the health and care needs of the nation.”
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at BHF, said: "We are delighted to support this major research programme. Research-driven innovation has already delivered huge progress in reducing the burden of CVD, but it is clear the benefits of advances in prevention and treatment have not been felt evenly across the UK. In some parts of the UK people are twice as likely to suffer or die from heart disease or stroke as in other areas of the country. This new research will focus on understanding why these disparities persist as well as developing practical solutions to strengthen detection and monitoring of major cardiovascular risk factors to tackle these unacceptable inequalities in care and outcomes.”