British Heart Foundation Invests £7.1 Million in National PhD Programme Linking Cardiovascular and Neurological Research

British Heart Foundation Invests £7.1 Million in National PhD Programme Linking Cardiovascular and Neurological Research

(IN BRIEF) The British Heart Foundation has awarded £7.1 million to fund the CHAIN consortium, a national PhD training programme focused on understanding the critical link between heart and brain diseases. Delivered collaboratively by the University of Manchester, University of Bristol, and University of Liverpool, the programme will train 40 researchers to adopt multidisciplinary approaches that integrate fields such as bioscience, engineering, data science, and artificial intelligence. The initiative aims to uncover the biological and societal factors connecting cardiovascular and neurological conditions, develop early diagnostic tools, and create personalised treatment strategies. With strong industry partnerships and access to advanced infrastructure, the programme is designed to prepare future leaders in health research while addressing growing challenges linked to ageing populations and multimorbidity. The initiative also reinforces the participating universities’ commitment to impactful, collaborative research that improves patient outcomes and advances scientific understanding.

(PRESS RELEASE) LIVERPOOL, 15-Apr-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — British Heart Foundation has committed £7.1 million in funding to support a pioneering national doctoral training initiative designed to address a critical yet often underappreciated challenge in modern medicine—the two-way relationship between heart and brain diseases.

The programme, known as the Connecting Hearts And mINds (CHAIN) consortium, focuses on advancing understanding of the heart–brain axis, a complex biological connection underlying a range of serious conditions including vascular dementia, myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation. This initiative closely aligns with the research priorities of the University of Liverpool, which emphasises multidisciplinary collaboration to tackle major health challenges.

Delivered jointly by the University of Manchester, University of Bristol, and the University of Liverpool, the PhD programme will train 40 early-career researchers, equipping them to work across traditional academic boundaries and adopt integrated approaches to understanding heart and brain health.

Participants will explore both the biological mechanisms and wider societal factors that link cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Their work will include developing innovative diagnostic tools for earlier detection, building predictive digital models to enable personalised treatment strategies, and designing therapies that target shared disease pathways across both organ systems. This approach reflects the increasing demand for preventative and system-wide healthcare solutions, particularly in the context of ageing populations and rising rates of multimorbidity.

The programme is structured around a strong multidisciplinary foundation, with research projects spanning discovery science, engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, imaging technologies, epidemiology, and behavioural science. By bringing together expertise from these diverse fields, the initiative aims to generate deeper insights into complex disease processes and accelerate the development of new treatment strategies.

Students will benefit from a collaborative training environment that includes cohort-based learning across all three institutions, as well as engagement with industry partners and access to advanced research infrastructure. These elements are intended to provide participants with the skills, professional networks, and practical experience needed to become future leaders in cardiovascular and neurological research, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and healthcare systems.

Professor Deirdre Lane, Professor of Cardiovascular Health and Head of the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine at the University of Liverpool, highlighted the significance of the programme as an opportunity to explore one of the most important intersections in human health. She noted that combining interdisciplinary expertise with the development of emerging researchers will deepen understanding of how the heart and brain interact and support progress in both fields.

Professor Louise Kenny, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool, emphasised the collaborative strength of the initiative, describing it as a major step toward addressing interconnected health challenges through innovative, multidisciplinary research approaches that deliver tangible benefits for patients and communities.

The programme proposal was led by Dr Gina Galli from the University of Manchester, Professor Deirdre Lane from the University of Liverpool, and Professor Alastair Poole from the University of Bristol, all of whom will serve as programme directors. For the University of Liverpool, the initiative represents a significant opportunity to co-lead a British Heart Foundation-funded doctoral training programme and contribute to shaping the next generation of cardiovascular researchers.

Media Contacts:

Joanne Carr
Deputy Director of Communications and Public Affairs
T: +44 (0)7825 434900
E: jocarr@liverpool.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Liverpool