National Cardiovascular Research Network

National Cardiovascular Research Network We connect patients, researchers, clinicians and communities across Wales to better understand and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Together, we’re improving heart health for everyone. ❤️ Working together for healthier hearts across Wales

At the National Cardiovascular Research Network (NCRN), we bring together people from all walks of life—patients, doctors, researchers, healthcare workers, charities, and industry partners—to tackle heart and blood vessel diseases as a team. We believe that real-life experiences are just as important as lab results. By listening to people affected by heart conditions and combining that with cutting-edge science, we’re discovering new ways to prevent, understand, and treat cardiovascular disease—so we can build a healthier future for everyone. Founded in 2022 with support from Health and Care Research Wales, our mission is to spark fresh ideas and new partnerships between universities and health services across Wales.

For , we're highlighting members from across the NCRN and the impactful work they are doing to advance cardiovascular r...
05/02/2026

For , we're highlighting members from across the NCRN and the impactful work they are doing to advance cardiovascular research in Wales.

This week, we have Cass Whelan, a post-doctoral researcher from the Cellular and Molecular Pathophysiology research group, currently working on the PREDICT-EV research project.

He says:

"As of 2022, there were almost 70,000 stroke survivors living in Wales, and an estimated 7,400 people experience a stroke each year. As many as 25% of those may have had a TIA, and so PREDICT-EV hopes to reduce the risk of stroke after TIA, improving quality of life for patients in Wales and reducing the burden of stroke on the NHS and Welsh economy."

Speaking about his involvement in the NCRN, Cass added:

"The NCRN has allowed me to understand the research happening on a national level in the cardiovascular research community, creating easier routes for collaboration between academics and health professionals, while reminding us that patients and the public are at the core of our research."



Cardiff Metropolitan University

The need for integrated cardiovascular research ❤️ Heart and circulatory diseases continue to be the leading cause of de...
04/02/2026

The need for integrated cardiovascular research ❤️

Heart and circulatory diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in Wales. Finding ways to prevent, treat and diagnose them requires focus, impact and a united, integrated approach.

This is what the NCRN is here to do.

By bringing people together, we can use our combination of expertise and resources to turn world-class research into the new treatments of tomorrow.

We can provide a framework for our researchers, using interdisciplinary approaches that span universities, health boards, charities and communities across Wales.

Below are some pictures from our recent Connect and Collaborate event, which was a great example of the power of our network when we come together.

03/02/2026

Ahead of St Dwynwen’s Day, the National Cardiovascular Research Network (NCRN) is calling on communities to help protect the most vital symbol of love – the heart. The NCRN is an interdisciplinary network of academics, researchers, clinicians, NHS staff, patients, charities and health boards uni...

It was great to be at the Women’s Health in Motion: From Menarche to Menopause event today.The general message was that ...
20/01/2026

It was great to be at the Women’s Health in Motion: From Menarche to Menopause event today.

The general message was that involving women in research is getting better but there is still a long way to go.

Cardiovascular research is no exception and that is exactly the type of underrepresentation we are trying to address with our AURORA fund.

12/01/2026

❤️ Got a great idea to tackle heart disease? We want to hear from you! ❤️

If you’re passionate about improving heart and circulatory health and have an innovative idea, AURORA funding could help make it happen.

✅ Your idea should engage people and communities most affected by heart and circulatory disease.
✅ Big or small, if it can make a difference, we want to know about it!

But in case you needed some inspiration, here are a few options👇

Find out more and apply here: https://ncrn.uk/funding/aurora-making-heart-health-research-more-inclusive/

Let’s work together to beat heart disease.

Congratulations Dr Manju Krishnan!Dr Krishnan is a champion of the National Cardiovascular Research Network and another ...
17/12/2025

Congratulations Dr Manju Krishnan!

Dr Krishnan is a champion of the National Cardiovascular Research Network and another amazing example of the incredible work happening here in Wales.

17/12/2025

✨ 2025 has been a busy and exciting year for the National Cardiovascular Research Network .

Highlights include establishing their Operations Team, launching three new funding opportunities, hosting a inaugural Connect and Collaborate event and - most importantly - bringing more people across Wales together to advance cutting-edge cardiovascular research.

🎄 Stay connected with our research community in 2026 by signing up to our bulletin through the link in the comments.

08/12/2025

We were delighted to invite so many of you to our Connect and Collaborate event last week.

It was a great opportunity for patients and the public to engage with the cardiovascular research that affects them and vice versa.

Our goal was to foster meaningful conversations between people from across the network. It is through connection and collaboration that we can advance our research and shape a healthier future for all.

That is the ethos of the National Cardiovascular Research Network.

A huge thank you to everyone who came, especially our speakers and panellists.

Some more good news coming out of our network 👇 A pioneering project, led by Ffion Lloyd-Thomas from Hywel Dda Health Bo...
01/12/2025

Some more good news coming out of our network 👇

A pioneering project, led by Ffion Lloyd-Thomas from Hywel Dda Health Board, alongside researchers like Jane Lewis from the National Cardiovascular Research Network and Cardiff Metropolitan University, is transforming stroke prevention through early detection of arrhythmia.

The team were shortlisted at the Advancing Healthcare Awards 2025 for Digital and Technology Innovation and received a highly commended recognition at the ceremony earlier this month.

Their initiative introduced Kardia AliveCor devices to Podiatry clinics to identify Atrial Fibrillation sooner and detect those who are asymptomatic in a “high-risk” patient demographic.

Llongyfarchiadau pawb! 👏

“Wales is the place to do this work” 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿❤️The words of our director Professor Chris George, who was the keynote spea...
27/11/2025

“Wales is the place to do this work” 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿❤️

The words of our director Professor Chris George, who was the keynote speaker at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board Research & Development Department’s conference yesterday.

Wales is unique in many ways.

There continues to be significant health inequalities across socioeconomic groups, challenges within the NHS and high rates of cardiovascular disease.

But there is also incredible research happening here on our doorstep. Our uniqueness is also our superpower and the conference showed just that.

Here at the NCRN, unity means better research. And better research means a healthier future not just for Wales, but the world.

Great work from one of our network's senior leaders, Dr Emma Rees, with Swansea University and Swansea Bay NHSThrough th...
24/11/2025

Great work from one of our network's senior leaders, Dr Emma Rees, with Swansea University and Swansea Bay NHS

Through the IMPROVE-HF Project, she is working on a way to make heart failure research better by using information that's already collected during heart scans and linking it with patients' records.

If conducted on a larger scale, this could help researchers learn more about heart failure across large populations and create a healthier future for all.

Another example of important cardiovascular research and collaboration happening here in the National Cardiovascular Research Network!

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