New leadership at the British Heart Foundation.

Abstract

Researcher and cardiologist Prof. Nilesh Samani succeeded Prof. Peter Weissberg as Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation in October. Mark Nicholls spoke to Prof. Samani about his vision for the future and Prof. Weissberg about the successes under his 12-year tenure ![Graphic][1] For Prof. Nilesh Samani, stepping into the role of Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the continuation of a long-standing link with the cardiovascular research charity that reaches back to his days as a junior researcher. Currently BHF Professor of Cardiology at the University of Leicester, Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University, Director of the National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Unit and a consultant cardiologist at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, he co-led the discovery of over 50 genes associated with coronary heart disease and was co-Principal Investigator of the BHF Family Heart Study which made a substantial contribution to this effort. ![Graphic][2] Having received BHF funding early in his career, for the past 13 years he has also held a BHF chair at the University of Leicester. Knighted in 2015 for services to medicine and medical research, he describes it as ‘an enormous privilege to serve the Foundation as Medical Director’ and remains acutely aware of ‘the central role the BHF plays in supporting cardiovascular research in the UK’. The BHF announced its new research strategy in October 2015, committing to spending over half a billion pounds on research over 5 years but while the framework and direction have been set, Prof. Samani believes there remain further opportunities. From taking up the post in October, he is keen to continue to make strong links with other funders in the UK, building on the existing collaboration with the Stroke Association and Medical Research Council, and foreseeing closer liaison with the … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif