National Cardiovascular Research Network

02/06/2026

In case you missed it, our May Newsletter is out!

From good news stories, patient experiences, and ways to get involved, follow the link below to read everything that's been going on across the Network

https://ncrn.uk/portfolio/1604-2/

19/05/2026

We were honoured to celebrate Esme with the British Heart Foundation - Wales at her red bench in Swansea last month ❤️

It was inspiring to hear Esme's story and a stark reminder of why we do the work we do.

Her bench is one of 65 being installed across the UK by the British Heart Foundation to mark 65 years since the charity began funding lifesaving research. Each bench tells the story of someone living with cardiovascular disease and is a tribute to those who have survived because of that research.

You can read the full story in our May newsletter next week!

15/05/2026

Did you know, mental health can also impact your heart health?

This we wanted to spotlight an incredible piece of research from Dr Libby Ellins and her team at Swansea University that investigates that link.

Find out what they uncovered here: https://ncrn.uk/portfolio/new-welsh-research-shows-missed-opportunities-to-prevent-heart-disease-but-people-with-depression-are-more-likely-to-receive-heart-health-checks/

31/03/2026

A beautiful day of movement, learning and heart health ❤️

Thanks to AURORA funding, women from across Cardiff joined us for yoga, conversations with leading researchers and blood pressure screenings.

Lots of communities are still underrepresented in research. Your event could help change that.

Apply for AURORA and bring heart health to the centre of your community.

Grange Pavilion

26/03/2026

is just around the corner!

MayMeasureMonth is just around the corner! This year we really want to make a difference with the data we collect.

Around 1 in 4 people in Wales are living with high blood pressure, but an even more frightening fact is that around 220,000 people don’t know they have it.

And even if you don’t have high blood pressure, making sure you get it checked regularly can help you lead a healthier life.

By being part of May Measure Month, we can be part of a bigger push to make hypertension a priority and motivate governments to improve screening and reduce the global burden of disease and death caused by raised blood pressure.

Get involved and support worldwide research by following the link in the comments👇

18/03/2026

Have you or someone close to you been affected by cardiovascular disease?🫀 Your experience could help shape the future of heart health research in Wales.

We're inviting people with lived experience of cardiovascular disease to join our leadership team and research funding panels. Your voice will help ensure that the research we invest in truly reflects the needs, priorities and realities of patients and the public.

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish patients had more of a say in this”, this is your chance to make that happen.

You don’t need professional, academic or public involvement experience - just a genuine passion for improving cardiovascular research in Wales.

We’d love you to join us.

Find out more or sign up here:

Breadcrumb Home Help shape cardiovascular research across Wales Help shape cardiovascular research across Wales Use your experience of living with cardiovascular disease to help shape the network's activities and decide what research is funded. The National Cardiovascular Research Network (NCRN) is...

16/03/2026

Our members at the National Cardiovascular Research Network have been publishing some incredible research recently👇

From finding links between depression and cardiovascular disease to new ways to prevent illness.

Read about it below.

12/03/2026

It's the lowest in the UK.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, women in Wales had the lowest UK healthy life expectancy (HLE) of just 58 years.

For men, it was only slightly better at 60 years, and this is still far below that of other countries.

While HLE has decreased across the UK, Wales had the largest decrease of 2.2. years for men and 3.3 years for women since the data was last collected in 2021.

With an estimated 400,000 people living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Wales, these figures are yet another stark reminder of why we do the work we do and why inclusivity in research is so important.

By uniting cardiovascular researchers across Wales, we can focus on prevention and continue to prioritise equality, so that we can help build a healthier future for all.

11/03/2026

Congratulations to the National Cardiovascular Research Network (NCRN) for securing funding that will transform efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat heart disease across Wales.

The NCRN – an interdisciplinary network of leading clinicians, researchers, patients and innovators – will join a £50 million UK-wide consortium dedicated to tackling inequalities in cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Based in Cardiff Metropolitan and Swansea universities, and spanning universities across Wales, the NCRN has been set up with funding from strategic partners - Health and Care Research Wales and the British Heart Foundation.

Professor Barry McDonnell, National Cardiovascular Research Network Co-Lead and Centre Director of Cardiovascular Research, Innovation and Development (CURIAD) at Cardiff Met, said: “We are extremely proud to be successful in becoming part of this landmark programme, funded by NIHR. Addressing inequalities in cardiovascular health here in Wales is a major strategic focus of our National Cardiovascular Research Network. Working as part of this UK consortium and having the substantial funding will enable our teams to drive significant impact here in Wales and across the UK.”

Read the full story in the comments ⬇️

05/02/2026

For , we're highlighting members from across the NCRN and the impactful work they are doing to advance cardiovascular research in Wales.

This week, we have Cass Whelan, a post-doctoral researcher from the Cellular and Molecular Pathophysiology research group, currently working on the PREDICT-EV research project.

He says:

"As of 2022, there were almost 70,000 stroke survivors living in Wales, and an estimated 7,400 people experience a stroke each year. As many as 25% of those may have had a TIA, and so PREDICT-EV hopes to reduce the risk of stroke after TIA, improving quality of life for patients in Wales and reducing the burden of stroke on the NHS and Welsh economy."

Speaking about his involvement in the NCRN, Cass added:

"The NCRN has allowed me to understand the research happening on a national level in the cardiovascular research community, creating easier routes for collaboration between academics and health professionals, while reminding us that patients and the public are at the core of our research."



Cardiff Metropolitan University