CVD is responsible for 26% of all UK deaths each year – more than 170,000 lives lost – and hits some communities far harder than others. People from ethnic minority backgrounds, those living in deprived areas, and women all experience worse outcomes.

To change this, the NIHR Cardiovascular Disease Inequalities Challenge Consortium, launched in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, will lead a programme of research focused on the communities most at risk.

A nationwide partnership to save lives

A group of leading universities, including Newcastle, will join forces through this new consortium. Together they will generate evidence and practical solutions to improve early detection and long‑term management of high blood pressure and harmful cholesterol levels, aiming to save thousands of lives.

The consortium will also invest in developing future research leaders, with a diverse programme of training and career opportunities designed to build long‑term capacity in CVD inequality research.

Vijay Kunadian, Professor of Interventional Cardiology at Newcastle University, is the Consortium Co-lead for Research and Capacity Development.

She said: “The majority of heart conditions are preventable. However, people from socioeconomically deprived regions, women, and those from ethnic minorities experience worse outcomes or die unnecessarily due to preventable conditions.

“Now is the time to change these statistics. This consortium is a remarkable opportunity for the UK’s leading research organisations to help tackle these inequalities and make a significant difference in our community."

The partnership spans universities, research institutes, charities, social enterprises, local councils, NHS Trusts and industry, ensuring system‑wide change. Members have been selected from across the UK – from rural and coastal regions to urban, highly deprived populations.

The teams bring extensive experience working with under‑served groups, including travelling communities, young people, and those with learning disabilities, and will reach communities who may not routinely engage with NHS services.

Research projects will begin in autumn 2026, with activity including:

• using wearables and digital health technologies to improve monitoring
• delivering innovative public health messaging to support long‑term behaviour change

Tackling the ‘root cause’

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR, said: “Cardiovascular disease causes 170,000 deaths annually in the UK, with a large long-term disease burden on the NHS.

“But it can be preventable with the right early intervention. This investment from the NIHR is one of the most ambitious attempts to tackle the root cause of inequalities of one the biggest killers.

“Now in our 20th year, the NIHR continues to drive life-changing research that matters. From earlier diagnosis and prevention in the community, to better treatments and improved quality of care, NIHR is funding and delivering research that tackles the health and care needs of the nation.”

Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at British Heart Foundation, said: "We are delighted to support this major research programme.

“Research-driven innovation has already delivered huge progress in reducing the burden of CVD, but it is clear the benefits of advances in prevention and treatment have not been felt evenly across the UK.

“In some parts of the UK people are twice as likely to suffer or die from heart disease or stroke as in other areas of the country.

“This new research will focus on understanding why these disparities persist as well as developing practical solutions to strengthen detection and monitoring of major cardiovascular risk factors to tackle these unacceptable inequalities in care and outcomes.”