Love from Manchester

13 Feb 2023

Our cardiovascular research showcased during National Heart Health Month

Ahead of Valentine’s day, and halfway through February's National Heart Health Month, a new awareness raising campaign is being launched to showcase the diversity of our research into heart and blood vessel diseases and the real life patient impact that it is having, to encourage our staff and students to help themselves and others achieve better cardiovascular health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease is the world’s number one cause of death, killing over 17 million people annually. In Manchester, deaths from heart disease are the highest in England, closely linked to the poor socio-economic conditions in the North West.

Researchers at The University of Manchester are improving lives across the globe through discoveries and treatments in heart hearth and closer to home, the team are looking to achieve similar impact, in the region where need is felt most.

Andy Trafford, Professor of Cardiac Pathophysiology and FBMH Associate Dean for Research, led the campaign and said: "February seemed the right time to start the conversation about heart health and what I’m hoping is that our University communities will learn more about our research and take the opportunity to realise the importance of looking after their own, as many people unfortunately don’t know they have heart problems until damage has occurred."

Four research stories will be shared across University channels during the four week campaign, individually highlighting the impact they are having on people and communities locally, regionally and globally. These stories range from preventing heart disease in Indonesia to managing risk and understanding mechanisms in the UK, the stories share a common narrative, innovation focussed on patient need.

Andy added: "By spotlighting the life-changing impact Manchester researchers are making globally, we hope this will encourage our University community to recognise where they can play their part in helping to improve heart health locally. Here, on a practical level, we have teamed up with other University health professionals to offer University led CPR training that the University community can sign up to attend.

"People are at the heart of our research. By raising awareness of the inequalities that determine poor heart health and at the same time empowering people to take action by sharing this knowledge and offering the training tools that can help redress this, we can achieve positive change for communities everywhere, starting with our own."

Look out for the stories on social media, internal communications or scan one of our posters in FBMH buildings and pick up a purple heart and postcard on campus from next week and sign up to attend one of the CPR sessions which could help you save a life.

Email heartheroes@manchester.ac.uk to attend our University run CPR training session led by healthcare professionals who will show you how to save a life. We will then notify you when a training course is being offered.