Achievements

Over the last 40 years, Heart Research UK has funded many of the revolutionary medical breakthroughs we take for granted, including the first ever successful UK heart transplants, the development of heart valves and artificial heart devices.       

We currently fund grants worth nearly £4 million at 33 universities and hospitals around the UK, awarding almost £900,000 last year alone. We focus on funding innovative, pioneering research and often support young researchers on their first steps into heart research.

Here are just some of the medical milestones we've helped to make possible

• six of the first eight sucessful UK heart transplants
• the development of heart valves, including the Killingbeck Valve developed by our founder, Mr David Watson
• the first ever artificial heart pump, implanted in Peter Houghton in 2000, who held the World Record as the longest surviving person with an artificial heart after seven years with the device
• ongoing development of an artificial heart muscle at Leeds University to aid patients with heart failure, which could have an impact on millions of lives.