Cardiovascular research has been founded on the shoulders of international leaders including Professor John Swales (Hypertension), Professor Sir Peter Bell (Vascular Surgery), and Professor David De Bono (Cardiology).

The sustained excellence of cardiovascular research in Leicester was recognised by being specifically flagged in all the Research Assessment Exercises and in the 2001 RAE, received a 5 rating. The formation of the Department of Cardiovascular Science as a recognition of this strength has provided additional focus and value and further strengthening of this research area is an important strategic objective of the Medical School. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise 95% of the cardiovascular research in Leicester was considered to be of international level, over half the submitted outputs ranked as outstanding or excellent and one in seven of the submitted research outputs ranked as world-leading.

The Department hosts a British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiology. The quality of the cardiovascular research undertaken in Leicester has recently been further recognised by the award of a National Institute of National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease.

The Department has laboratory and clinical facilities at The Glenfield Hospital, The Leicester Royal Infirmary and The Leicester General Hospital. These provide an environment in which research can be translated “from bench to bedside” and give opportunities for scientists and clinicians to work together. This integration of clinical medicine and laboratory science creates excellent opportunities for students to undertake research that will have a real impact on the lives of patients.

Cardiovascular Sciences has more than 160 staff and postgraduate students, including over 40 academic staff and is part of the College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology. The Department is managed on a day-to-day basis by an Executive committee, consisting of the Head (Professor NJ Samani), Deputy Head (Professor Thompson G Robinson) and research Theme Lead (Professor AH Goodall), the Department Manager (Mr M Maisuria) and two Technical Services Managers (Ms J Harris and Mr P Liepins), which meets weekly. The committee reports to the Departmental Strategy Board, comprising the Heads of each research section and other senior members of the Department. The Board, which meets bi-monthly, is responsible for the research strategy and financial administration of the Department. An Academic Committee (Chair: Professor Thompson G Robinson) is responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate academic issues and running the Departmental seminar program and research days. A technical and clerical sub-committee is responsible for technical and clerical matters.