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

  1. Vascular and stroke

  2. Stem cell and regenerative medicine

  3. Diabetes and metabolism

  4. Cardiac

Our mission

  1. Understand the rules of life of cells and tissues in the cardiovascular and metabolic cells and tissues

  2. Develop better therapies, diagnosis and clinical practice in cardiovascular and metabolic disease

  3. 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

Dr James Smith, Lecturer, Norwich Medical School

Research Overview

The group James works in use stem cells to grow new human heart cells that can be used to study cardiovascular and metabolic disease.

James became interested in cardiovascular research when working as a post doc and first observed beating human heart tissue that had been grown in a lab. He has helped to raise money for BHF by running marathons, obstacle courses and 24-hour endurance events.

"Heart disease is one of the biggest killers worldwide and it’s great to contribute to a field with the potential of helping so many people.”

 

Gene editing technology

The group James works in use stem cells to grow new human heart cells that can be used to study cardiovascular and metabolic disease. They use gene editing technology, where they can change and correct DNA mutations in heart cells they have derived from patients with cardiovascular disease.

 

Connecting Without Borders

James thinks that the network will help awareness and collaboration between researchers as well as advancing the ability to obtain future funding.

 

Find out more about research at
Norwich Medical School