Share of £50m coming to Surrey to help tackle inequalities in cardiovascular disease

Surrey is one of nine institutions chosen to lead local research within the new NIHR Cardiovascular Disease Inequalities Challenge Consortium – a £50 million programme funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF). 

Christian Heiss, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Surrey, leads the Surrey arm of the programme. His team brings together experts from Surrey County Council, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex. The wider partnership includes Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board, GP networks, charities, local NHS providers and industry partners. The team will work directly with people affected by cardiovascular disease to design new ways of delivering care and test community-led interventions. 

Professor Christian Heiss said: 

“What excites me about this programme is the partnership we’ve built locally. Researchers, NHS clinicians, council teams and community organisations across Surrey are all working together on this. That means our research will be shaped by the people who see these inequalities first-hand – and by the communities who live with them. That’s how you design interventions that actually work.” 

Over five years, the programme aims to answer two questions: who is being diagnosed with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and how well are those conditions managed? The consortium will focus specifically on groups that are routinely overlooked, reflecting the diversity of communities and the range of inequalities they face. 

Findings could lead to better early detection, more targeted community interventions and practical tools for health services across the country. The nine university-led teams will also develop training and career pathways for the next generation of cardiovascular researchers. 

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) 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 causes of inequalities in one of 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.” 

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the UK, contributing to a quarter of all deaths. The consortium’s research projects are expected to begin in autumn 2026.