The University is part of a £175,000 research project funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) into heart disease.

Heart and circulatory disease is Britain’s biggest killer and the grant is part of the BHF’s multi-million-pound boost for research in the UK.

Working with scientists from the University of Warwick and Aston University Birmingham, the team from Essex, led by Professor Chris Reynolds, will research a small protein in the heart and circulatory system which could feed into future research to develop new medicines for cardiovascular disease.

The BHF is the single biggest independent funder of cardiovascular research in the UK. Last year, the BHF supported more than £88m of research at universities and hospitals all over the UK.

Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the BHF, said: “Without all of the generous donations from the public we couldn’t fund this ground-breaking research to beat heart disease. The team at the University of Essex, and their collaborators across the UK, are a fantastic example of the pioneering scientists whose work we can support, all thanks to your donations.”

The BHF funds a wide range of life-saving science to combat heart and circulatory diseases. To find out more visit: bhf.org.uk/heartscience.

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Notes to editors

For more information about the University please call the Communications Office on 01206 872400 or e-mail comms@essex.ac.uk.

For more information about the British Heart Foundation (BHF) please call the BHF press office on 020 7554 0164 or 07764 290 381 (out of hours) or e-mail newsdesk@bhf.org.uk

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation’s heart charity, dedicated to saving lives through pioneering research, patient care, campaigning for change and by providing vital information. It relies on donations of time and money to continue its life-saving work.