Heart Research Uk

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £2,043,476 (charitable expenditure 2023)
• Success Rate: 20% for TRP grants (2024)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £15,000 (community) to £250,000 (research)
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom-wide
• Total Funded Since Inception: Over £30 million

Contact Details

Website: www.heartresearch.org.uk

Phone: 0113 234 7474

Email: info@heartresearch.org.uk

Medical Research Grants: medicalgrants@heartresearch.org.uk

Application Portal: heartresearchuk.flexigrant.com

Overview

Heart Research UK was founded in 1967 by cardiovascular surgeon Mr David Watson following the death of a young patient. Originally named the National Heart Research Fund, it changed its name in 2005. The charity leads the way funding groundbreaking, innovative medical research projects at the cutting edge of science into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease. There is a strong emphasis on supporting clinical and surgical projects and young researchers on their first steps into research. As a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), the organisation uses a rigorous scientific review process. Since its founding, Heart Research UK has funded over £30 million of research and more than 350 medical research projects across the UK. In 2023, the charity had a total income of £2,369,556 with charitable expenditure of £2,043,476.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Healthy Heart Grants: Up to £15,000

Community-focused grants for registered charities and Community Interest Companies with annual income under £1 million. Projects must run 3-12 months and focus on healthy eating, physical activity, smoking, or alcohol consumption. Available for new projects working with adults only. Applications rotate regionally throughout the year (Wales, England North, Scotland, etc.) via online portal.

Novel and Emerging Technologies (NET) Grants: Up to £250,000

For research projects developing new technologies to diagnose, treat and prevent heart diseases. No indirect costs included in the £250,000 maximum. Principal Applicant must be in a tenured position at the Host Institution.

Translational Research Project (TRP) Grants: Up to £200,000

Bridge the gap between laboratory-based scientific research and patient care. Two categories: first translational gap (preclinical studies) and second translational gap (patient-focused studies with direct benefit). Award rate of one in five (20% success rate in 2024).

Spark Grants: Amount not publicly specified

Enable researchers to test new ideas or deliver proof-of-principle studies to de-risk larger investment.

PhD Studentships: Up to £112,500

One PhD studentship awarded per year. Both clinical and non-clinical studentships available. Clinical PhDs supported through shared funding with host institution.

Priority Areas

• Prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease
• Heart disease research with potential to benefit patients directly
• New and innovative technologies for diagnosis and treatment
• Clinical and surgical projects
• Support for early-career researchers
• Community health projects promoting nutrition, physical activity, reducing smoking and alcohol consumption
• Projects serving at-risk communities

What They Don't Fund

Medical Research:

• Stroke, diabetes, or peripheral arterial disease research (outside their remit)
• Projects without clear benefit to heart disease patients

Healthy Heart Grants:

• Ongoing community projects (unless delivered to a new group)
• Projects for children or young people (must work with adults)
• Organizations with annual income over £1 million
• Projects outside 3-12 month timeframe
• Projects not focused on nutrition, physical activity, smoking, or alcohol

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Board offers expertise in key areas including cardiology, cardiac surgery, and finance. Notable trustees include:

• Professor Chris Newman - Dean of the Medical School and Professor of Clinical Cardiology at the University of Sheffield; honorary consultant cardiologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Director of the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility
• Multiple consultant cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons with decades of NHS experience
• A retired Solicitor and Tribunal Judge
• Finance professionals with accountancy backgrounds

Senior Team

• Chief Executive Officer (joined July 2019, background in charity sector including Save the Children, Leeds Women's Aid, and Sue Ryder)
• Director of Research
• Chief Medical Advisor
• Health & Wellbeing Specialist

All senior staff are available as spokespeople for media inquiries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Medical Research Grants:

All applications submitted through Flexigrant application portal (heartresearchuk.flexigrant.com). Applicants encouraged to contact HRUK for advice before applying. Sample application forms and eligibility reviews available. Support provided for Patient & Public Involvement recruitment through their Patient & Public Network.

Healthy Heart Grants:

Online portal applications. Regional rounds rotate throughout the year:

• Wales: Opens March 26
• England North: Opens May 7 at 5pm, closes June 4 at 5pm
• Scotland: Opens June 11, deadline July 9

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines not publicly disclosed. As an AMRC member, applications undergo rigorous scientific review including people with lived experience and external reviewers, followed by final review by Heart Research UK grant panels.

Success Rates

TRP Grants: 20% success rate (one in five applications funded in 2024)

Other grant programmes' success rates not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy not publicly disclosed. Applicants should contact the charity directly for guidance on resubmissions.

Application Success Factors

Focus on Heart Disease Specifically

Research proposals must demonstrate clear potential to benefit heart disease patients. Stroke, diabetes, and peripheral arterial disease are explicitly outside their remit.

Demonstrate Innovation

Heart Research UK describes itself as funding “groundbreaking, innovative” research “at the cutting edge of science.” NET grants specifically target new technologies, while Spark grants support novel ideas.

Strong Patient Benefit

Translational research is prioritized. Second translational gap projects should have “direct and immediate benefit on patient care” with practical applications.

Community Projects Should Address Risk Factors

Healthy Heart Grants must focus on one or more key areas: nutrition/healthy eating, physical activity, smoking, or alcohol consumption. Projects should serve at-risk communities.

Examples of Funded Projects

Medical Research:

• University College London/Great Ormond Street: Faster imaging technique for babies with congenital heart disease
• University of Leicester: Using ECGs to measure sudden cardiac death risk
• Bristol Heart Institute: Repairing hearts of babies with CHD using umbilical cord stem cells
• Dr Daniel Keene, Imperial College London: £198,885 TRP grant
• Dr Markos Klonizakis, Sheffield Hallam University: £176,383 TRP grant

Community Projects:

• Football Fit, Glasgow, Scotland: £14,600 (January 2024 – March 2025)
• Healthy Hearts with Vibe Life, Denbigh, Wales: £10,259.06
• Heart of the Leopards Programme, Wigan, Greater Manchester: £12,611

Patient and Public Involvement

Applications benefit from meaningful patient and public involvement. Heart Research UK offers support through their Patient & Public Network to help researchers recruit people with lived experience.

Early Career Support

The charity emphasizes supporting “young researchers on their first steps into research,” making it potentially more accessible for early-career applicants than larger funders.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Strict disease focus: Only heart disease research funded—stroke, diabetes, and peripheral arterial disease explicitly excluded. Ensure clear alignment before applying.

• Innovation valued highly: Use language emphasizing “groundbreaking,” “innovative,” and “cutting edge” approaches. Spark and NET grants particularly target novel ideas and emerging technologies.

• Patient benefit essential: Especially for TRP grants, demonstrate “direct and immediate benefit” to patient care. Translational focus preferred over purely theoretical research.

• Regional rotation for community grants: Healthy Heart Grants operate on rotating regional schedule—check timing for your area. Projects must be new (or new to specific beneficiary group) and 3-12 months in duration.

• 20% success rate for TRP grants: Competitive but not impossible. One in five TRP applications funded in 2024. Quality over quantity in applications.

• Pre-application contact welcomed: Charity encourages applicants to seek advice before submitting. Use this opportunity to test alignment and strengthen your approach.

• AMRC standards applied: As AMRC member, rigorous peer review process with external reviewers and people with lived experience. Applications must meet high scientific standards while demonstrating accessibility and real-world impact.

References

1. Heart Research UK Official Website - www.heartresearch.org.uk
2. Heart Research UK - Healthy Heart Grants page - https://heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-heart-grants/
3. Heart Research UK - Medical Research Grants page - https://heartresearch.org.uk/medical-research-grant-apply/
4. Heart Research UK - Research Grants Overview - https://heartresearch.org.uk/research-grants/
5. Heart Research UK - Medical Research Projects - https://heartresearch.org.uk/professionals/medical-research/medical-research-projects/
6. Heart Research UK - Our History - https://heartresearch.org.uk/our-history/
7. Heart Research UK - Trustees page - https://heartresearch.org.uk/trustees/
8. Charity Commission Register - HEART RESEARCH UK (1044821) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1044821
9. Heart Research UK Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Research_UK
10. Funding Scotland - Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants - https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000000Ng6aEAC/heart-research-uk-healthy-heart-grants
11. Supporting Communities - HRUK Announces 2025 Application Rounds - https://supportingcommunities.org/funding-news-1/2025/1/17/hruk-announces-2025-application-rounds-for-healthy-heart-grants
12. Yorkshire Post - "The 'incredible' great-grandfather who founded Heart Research UK charity" - https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/heart-research-uk-man-who-founded-charity-in-leeds-turns-100-3882394