There are an estimated 7 million people living with heart and circulatory disease in the UK. It kills around 155,000 people each year in the UK; that’s more than a quarter of all deaths.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) currently funds over £51 million of research into heart and circulatory diseases at the University of Cambridge. That funding is made possible by the generosity of people in Cambridge and the wider UK.
One person is admitted to the hospital because of a heart attack every three minutes in the UK. While we have good tests to detect coronary heart disease in people who develop symptoms, this often occurs at a late stage. In fact, most people who develop heart attacks have not had any previous symptoms to warn them of their underlying condition.
BHF-funded researcher Dr Jason Tarkin is working on new ways to use imaging to predict those people who are most likely to have heart attacks, so that they can start to be treated for the disease.
These images (Seeing the light through the trees, the shortlisted entry - above) were taken from a 3D representation of a PET-CT scan, where molecular imaging was used to measure dangerous fatty plaque inflammation in a patient after a heart attack.
The bright hotspot that appears in the picture shows inflammation in the artery wall, which is one of the main causes of heart attacks. As a research tool, this type of scan might help Dr Tarkin to figure out why some patients, and not others, develop heart disease.
Reflections of Research provides a glimpse into the cutting edge research that the BHF funds. Modern technology allows scientists to image the body in unprecedented detail and provide new insights into ways to prevent and treat heart and circulatory disease.
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This years’ winning entry, Go with the flow, by Dr Victoria Stoll a BHF-funded researcher at the University of Oxford captures the blood flowing within an adult heart frozen in a moment of time. Blood flows within the main pumping chambers – the ventricles – of the heart and the vessels leaving the heart. The blue flow is blood that lacks oxygen and is travelling to the lungs. The red flow is blood that has been through the lungs and received oxygen and is now ready to be pumped around the body.
Dr Stoll is using this type of imaging to look at the blood flow in four dimensions within the hearts of people with heart failure, whose hearts are not pumping effectively. She has already found that in people with severe heart failure the blood flows around the heart in a more disordered and disrupted pattern.
Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the BHF and one of this year’s judges, said: “Science relies increasingly on ever more sophisticated imaging techniques to help us to see the cellular and molecular processes that conspire to create disease.
“Each of these images contains a wealth of information that scientists can use in their fight against cardiovascular disease. So whilst this competition is all about stunning imagery, it’s actually the story that the image tells that matters.”
Competition judge, artist and designer Sofie Layton, said: “Bringing the worlds of art and science together is such a perfect way of to explore the wonders of science and the extraordinary insights that we are able to witness through the technology that scientists have access to. Finding an artistic expression can make these concepts accessible to a much wider community.”
Find out more about Reflections of Research and explore the images at bhf.org.uk/reflections
Notes
The winner was chosen by a panel of judges, Medical Director at the BHF, Professor Peter Weissberg, artist and designer Sophie Layton, wildlife photographer Andy Rouse and Dr Sarah Clarke, President of the British Cardiovascular Society.
The Supporters’ Favourite was chosen from an online vote on the BHF Facebook page.
All images have been produced as part of research funded by the BHF.
For more information about Reflections of Research visit bhf.org.uk/reflections
British Heart Foundation
Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer. For over 50 years we’ve pioneered research that’s transformed the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions. Our work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are changing the fight against heart disease. But so many people still need our help. From babies born with life-threatening heart problems to the many Mums, Dads and Grandparents who survive a heart attack and endure the daily battles of heart failure. Every pound raised, minute of your time and donation to our shops will help make a difference to people’s lives.
For more information, visit bhf.org.uk
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For more information please call the BHF press office on 020 7554 0164 (07764 290 381 – out of hours) or email [email protected].