University of Leicester experts have been awarded nearly £2 million to set up a global vascular research centre, based at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, a press release reports.
The funding, from the NIHR Research Professorships scheme, will support the creation of a new programme called CIRCULIFE. This aims to help patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) live longer, healthier lives and will fund a team of researchers, doctors, and patients working together to design simple checklists, apps, exercise advice, and patient-friendly materials.
Leading the new centre will be Athanasios Saratzis (University of Leicester, Leicester, UK), who has received the first-ever NIHR professorship in vascular surgery. He said: “Too many people with arterial disease don’t get the right medicines or lifestyle support in order to improve their condition and overall health. By creating practical tools for patients and healthcare staff, the research will improve treatment, prevent amputations, and save lives, not just in the UK but internationally.”
Saratzis continued: “This funding over the next five years will help establish the centre in Leicester, bringing together international experts from Europe, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Asia so that we can adapt the programme for different healthcare systems.
“This will enable us to build on years of work around AAA and PAD; we will be able to create something that can truly change how we care for people with artery diseases. Having personally faced serious health challenges, this award also feels like a recognition of resilience and dedication, and it will allow me to make a lasting difference to patients’ lives.”
