BHF Funds National Program to Investigate Heart-Brain Link
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has allocated £7.1 million to a national training program focused on the link between heart and brain diseases. This program, known as the Connecting Hearts And mINds (CHAIN) consortium, aims to investigate the heart-brain axis.
The CHAIN consortium will address conditions such as vascular dementia, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and atrial fibrillation by investigating the heart-brain axis.
Collaborative PhD Program
The PhD Program will be delivered collaboratively by the Universities of Liverpool, Bristol, and Manchester. It is designed to train 40 scientists from the UK in integrated approaches to heart-brain health.
Core Objectives and Research Areas
Participants will work to identify biological and societal factors linking heart and brain diseases. They will also focus on developing new early detection tools, creating predictive digital models for personalized care, and designing therapies targeting shared pathways across both organ systems.
The program emphasizes multidisciplinary research, with students engaging in projects spanning discovery bioscience, engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, imaging, epidemiology, and behavioral science.
Developing Future Leaders
Cohort-based training across the three universities, supported by industry partnerships and access to infrastructure, will provide researchers with a collaborative environment. This aims to equip them with the skills and networks necessary for future leadership in cardiovascular and neurological research.
Expert Perspectives and Program Leadership
Professor Deirdre Lane, from the University of Liverpool, stated that the program provides an opportunity for scientists to investigate the connection between the heart and brain, aiming to deepen understanding and train future researchers.
Professor Louise Kenny, also from the University of Liverpool, noted that the program brings together expertise to address heart and brain health challenges, expecting it to accelerate discovery and improve patient outcomes.
The program application was led by Dr. Gina Galli (University of Manchester), Professor Deirdre Lane (University of Liverpool), and Professor Alastair Poole (University of Bristol), who will serve as program directors.