What is the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Network?
Our multidisciplinary research network interdigitates scientists and clinicians from UEA Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medicine & Health, and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital.
We work together to understand and tackle cardiovascular and metabolic disease, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and vascular dementia. Major funders within the network include BBSRC, British Heart Foundation, NIHR Wellcome Trust and industrial partners.
Thematic research areas
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Vascular and stroke
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Stem cell and regenerative medicine
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Diabetes and metabolism
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Cardiac
Our mission
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Understand the rules of life of cells and tissues in the cardiovascular and metabolic cells and tissues
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Develop better therapies, diagnosis and clinical practice in cardiovascular and metabolic disease
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Develop new talent through postgraduate research, research fellowships and an excellent training environment
"Multidisciplinary working is essential for us to understand the complex physiology of our cardiovascular system, what goes wrong in disease, and how to predict, diagnose and treat disease. We are uniquely placed in close proximity on the Norwich Research Park to deliver this.”
Professor Sam Fountain
Network Director and Chair of Pharmacology
Fellowships and collaboration
The network is open to hosting UKRI and British Heart Foundation Basic and Clinical Fellowships. Contact Professor Sam Fountain to discuss how we can best support your application.
2024/2025 Seminar Series
Talk title: TBC
Professor Nicola Smart, University of Oxford
Date and Time: Thursday 17 October, 1-2pm
Venue: TBC
Host: Dr Linda Troeberg, UEA MED
Speaker bio: TBC
Hear from some of our researchers
Research Overview
Andrea is a research scientist addressing fundamental questions of how the heart develops in early vertebrate embryos.
Her lab has identified the origin and migration trajectories of cardiac progenitor cells from when these cells are first 'born' through to them forming a simple contractile heart tube. Funding from BHF has supported PhD students and post-doctoral researchers. All of them have gone on to successful careers either in pharmaceutical industry, academic research, science communication or project management.
“It is a really fascinating process, which we are beginning to understand at the genetic level. This also provides insights into the aetiology of congenital birth defects, which can range from mild to more severe and debilitating. Better knowledge in this area supports genetic diagnosis as well as regenerative medicine.”
The Embryo Heart
The heart forms really early in an embryo, any issues arising at those stages can often lead to abortive development and loss of an early pregnancy. Serious malformations, such as for example cardia bifida - two separate heart tubes that do not fuse, is not compatible with embryo survival. Some of the genes acting at these early stages are also involved in cardiac differentiation. This knowledge is being used in bioengineering and biotechnology, for example to derive cardiomyocytes from stem cells.
Connecting Without Borders
Andrea says that the network will help to enhance scientific collaborations and promote cross-fertilisation and interactions between clinicians, clinical scientists, and basic biomedical researchers.
Find out more about research in the
School of Biological Sciences