Cardiovascular and lung disease impact all ages across the world, regardless of socioeconomic status. The WHO reported that more than 27 million deaths were caused by cardiovascular and lung disease in 2019. There is every reason to suspect that the COVID pandemic has further increased this mortality burden, and climate change, air pollution, and other factors will continue to do so. In addition to deaths, many millions of people suffer daily with the consequences of poor cardiovascular and lung health.
Our approach to the challenge of improving cardiovascular and lung health is grounded in our values. We are a patient-centred, collaborative, data-driven, and delivery-focussed community who are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusivity in both our research and our researchers. Understanding complex issues, such as cardiovascular and lung health, from multiple viewpoints increases the likelihood that the preventive strategies, diagnostics, and therapeutic solutions we develop will be effective and have global impact.
The VPD-HLRI hosts >450 research staff from seven different University departments and the NHS (Royal Papworth Hospital and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts), and currently holds >£250 million in active research funding. In addition to wet and dry laboratory research space, we also house a NIHR accredited Clinical Research Facility with the ability to support experimental medicine and early phase clinical trials. The VPD-HLRI also hosts other important research infrastructure including the UK Cystic Fibrosis Innovation Hub, the Wolfson Lung Injury Unit, a BHF Centre of Research Excellence, the Cambridge Baker Systems Genomic Initiative, and the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit.