Birmingham-led team selected to tackle national health inequalities in heart disease

The University of Birmingham is leading one of nine consortia that have been selected to take part in the NIHR Cardiovascular Inequalities Challenge. Developed in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, this £50 million project aims to tackle the huge inequalities that persist across underserved communities in the UK.

The research programme will focus on co-creating practical solutions with communities at-risk – strengthening the detection and management of high blood pressure and cholesterol, two driving factors for diseases of the heart and circulation.

Heart attacks, strokes and other conditions such as vascular dementia are preventable with blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering treatment, yet most people are not diagnosed or treated effectively and continue to suffer these catastrophic events.

Leveraging both existing infrastructure and new technologies, the Challenge aims to address one of the UK’s biggest killers for all people, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, social status, disability or culture.

This is an exciting opportunity to have a major impact on the trajectory of heart disease across the UK, and make equal access to NHS care a reality.

Professor Dipak Kotecha, University of Birmingham

Professor Dipak Kotecha, lead for the team, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Birmingham and researcher at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, said: “Our part of this national collaboration includes a dynamic team of community representatives, public health and primary care clinicians, cardiovascular researchers, local and national government agencies, as well as industry partners and technology companies working together to effect sustainable change and pivot the NHS towards better prevention.”

Collaborative research

The University of Birmingham-led consortium includes core partners such as Citizens UK (the UK’s biggest and most diverse people-powered alliances), Aston University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Birmingham City Council. As part of the project, this team will work with eight other consortia across the UK to bring together a wealth of experience to address health inequality.

Dr Saidul Haque Saeed, Lead Organiser, West Midlands at Citizens UK, said: “Our mission at Citizens UK is to bring together everyday people and local organisations to build a better, fairer society. Together, we’re making change on the issues that matter, and we are excited to be a part of this vital project to address inequalities in cardiovascular health and help everyone have access to NHS care.”

We are excited to be a part of this vital project to address inequalities in cardiovascular health and help everyone have access to NHS care.

Dr Saidul Haque Saeed, Citizens UK

Through this consortium, we’re proud to bring tried-and-tested approaches that open the door for more people – especially those often ignored in research- to influence how we tackle cardiovascular health gaps.

Professor Shivani Sharma, Aston University

Professor Shivani Sharma, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise at Aston University, said: “At Aston, we’re deeply committed to inclusive and participatory research, creating spaces where people can shape both the questions and solutions.

“Through this consortium, we’re proud to bring tried-and-tested approaches that open the door for more people – especially those often ignored in research- to influence how we tackle cardiovascular health gaps. This isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about building engagement that feels accessible, relevant, and genuinely meaningful to communities.”

Professor Elias Mossialos, Cheng Yu Tung Chair in Global Health and Director of LSE Health at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: ‘We are delighted to contribute to this important consortium. Addressing inequalities in population health requires deep understanding of the social and economic conditions that shape how innovations work in practice.

“Our role will be to provide economic and policy analysis to evaluate the health, social, and economic impact of initiatives and generate evidence that supports sustainable and equitable health systems. This is an important opportunity to bring interdisciplinary expertise together in the service of fairer health outcomes.”

Addressing inequalities in population health requires deep understanding of the social and economic conditions that shape how innovations work in practice.

Professor Elias Mossialos, London School of Economics and Political Science

We’re delighted to be a part of this exciting research programme which will help to support our work to reduce inequalities in health.

Becky Pollard, Birmingham City Council

Becky Pollard, Assistant Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council, said: “Tackling cardiovascular disease is a key priority for us and requires an approach across the city and nation that brings together councils, the NHS, community and voluntary sectors and wider society.”

In addition to national and collaborative research projects, the NIHR Cardiovascular Inequalities Challenge will support and develop capacity across all stakeholders. Professor Clare Taylor, Professor of General Practice at the University of Birmingham, said: “Capacity building is essential to realise our ambition to effect disruptive and sustainable change in cardiovascular inequality.”

Our vision is to create a skilled and diverse research community, committed to this common goal.

Professor Clare Taylor, University of Birmingham

More than the sum of its parts

Working together, the consortium aims to make a distinct difference in the lives of people across the UK who have less access to either existing or new and often life-saving treatments for heart disease. The consortium’s research projects aim to start later this year. The work will synergise with a range of other programmes led by the University of Birmingham and our partners that are already opening up the benefit of clinical research to broader populations. This includes the DaRe2THINK national primary care trial platform, the Cities@Heart Innovative Health Initiative, the West Midlands Secure Data Environment and the Living Lab for HealthTech.