The new centre will integrate cardiovascular genomics, advanced spatial biology, cardiac MRI, artificial intelligence, and patient cohorts to improve the prediction of disease progression and develop personalised care approaches for individuals with cardiomyopathies. These conditions affect the heart muscle and are a leading cause of heart failure, sudden cardiac death, and heart transplantation.
Despite affecting approximately 1 in 150 people, current clinical methods cannot reliably predict serious complications, disease progression, or the most effective treatments for individual patients. The Centre aims to address these critical gaps by combining detailed molecular information from human heart tissue with advanced imaging, genetic, and clinical data.
Over the next five years, researchers will study individuals with cardiomyopathies and those carrying genetic variants linked to these conditions. The goal is to create a comprehensive molecular and structural map of cardiomyopathy and develop new imaging biomarkers to forecast disease progression and identify at-risk patients.
“"Our vision is to transform how cardiomyopathy is diagnosed, how risk is predicted and how patients are treated."
The research will be delivered through three interconnected hubs focusing on clinical studies and genetics, advanced spatial biology, and advanced cardiac imaging. The initiative builds on decades of cardiomyopathy research at Imperial and its NHS partners.
Dr Paz Tayal, Clinical Associate Professor in Cardiology and Consultant Cardiologist, highlighted the importance of addressing patient and family concerns regarding disease trajectory variability, prediction accuracy, and tailored care. The Centre's work aims to generate evidence to guide treatment decisions based on the underlying biology of each patient's disease.
The establishment of the Centre was made possible by a significant gift from the Michael Uren Foundation, continuing the legacy of alumnus Sir Michael Uren, a longstanding supporter of Imperial College London.
Professor Barbara Casadei, Head of Imperial’s National Heart and Lung Institute, expressed gratitude for the Foundation's support, stating it will enable the Centre to tackle significant challenges in cardiomyopathy research and translate scientific advances into patient benefits.
The Trustees of the Michael Uren Foundation expressed pride in continuing Sir Michael's legacy of supporting medical research, hoping the gift will provide researchers with the resources needed to better understand cardiomyopathies and improve patient care.
