National charity, Heart Research UK kick-started a year of celebration at a special event at Leeds Civic Hall, attended by the Lord Mayor on 31 January 2007, exactly 40 years to the day since the charity was founded.

Heart Research UK was founded by a heart surgeon, Mr David Watson (now aged 84) who was based at Killingbeck Hospital in Leeds back in the 60’s.  He knew that with to raise more research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease, more patients could be saved. Today the charity has gone from strength to strength, now funding more than £2.3 million worth of research all over the UK. 

Medical milestones

Over the last 40 years Heart Research UK has supported many of the amazing medical breakthroughs we now take for granted, including the first successful UK heart transplants, carried out by Sir Terence English at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire. 

Cardiac Research Unit

For twenty years, the charity funded the Cardiac Research Unit at Killingbeck Hospital, which was headed up by Mr Watson and research was carried out into all aspects of heart disease including the development of heart valves, bypass surgery, angioplasty and innovative imaging techniques. The team developed one of the first tissue valves, the Killingbeck valve, which is similar to many valves used today. In addition to this, the charity has supported £14 million worth of medical research at hospitals and universities across the UK, ranging from Dundee to Southampton.

Thank you from the bottom of our heart

National Director for Heart Research UK, Barbara Harpham, said, “We owe a great debt to our founder, Mr Watson, as his vision and dedication has undoubtedly helped to make heart surgery safer for countless patients.  I’d also like to pay tribute to the amazing people who have fundraised, volunteered and supported us over the years.”

If you would like to support Heart Research UK in 2007, during our 40th anniversary year, we would love to hear from you.  Call 0113 234 7474 or email info@heartresearch.org.uk

Click on the logo below for 40th anniversary fundraising ideas