Leicester Heart Research Centre Receives Royal Visitor

HRH The Duke of Gloucester witnessed at first hand the life-saving work of the University of Leicester, working in partnership with Leicester’s Hospitals, during a visit last month to the new British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Research Centre at Glenfield Hospital.

This £12.6 million facility brings together scientists, doctors and patients with the aim of improving the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases which kill more than 160,000 people in the UK annually.

The visit followed the Duke’s attendance at Leicester Cathedral’s service for the reinterment of King Richard III.  The University of Leicester discovered the king and its researchers formally identified him.

The Duke saw the John and Lucille van Geest Biomarker Facility with an explanation of how the van Geest Proteomics Facility is discovering new biomarkers for cardiovascular disease and the Wolfson Cardiovascular Genetics Laboratory, where the unit’s world-leading research into the genetic factors that affect cardiovascular disease was highlighted.

He also toured the Edith Murphy Biomedical Data to Knowledge Centre which integrates clinical and research data through innovative IT systems.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, BHF Professor of Cardiology and Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester, said: “We are delighted that HRH The Duke of Gloucester has made time to visit the Cardiovascular Research Centre during his trip to Leicester. In addition to showing him the research we undertake which impacts on prevention and treatment of heart diseases through improved understanding of their causes, we hope to demonstrate how we created the Centre through engagement with our local community and their tremendous philanthropic support.”