Theme 3 - Deconstructing ageing to reveal novel resilience targets in the heart
Age is the strongest risk factor for cardiovascular disease and heart failure, yet the biological mechanisms linking ageing to cardiac dysfunction remain poorly understood. Theme 3 aims to identify which hallmark processes of ageing most strongly influence cardiovascular function and resilience, using advanced multiomic profiling, imaging, and dynamic biomarkers. By uncovering pathways that reduce physiological reserve, we will reveal novel therapeutic targets to prevent or manage heart failure and collaborate across themes to test interventions that enhance resilience.
Calls
There are currently no active open calls
Funded Projects
Our first pump-prime awards for Theme 3 have been granted to PIs leading innovative projects that explore how ageing affects the heart and identify strategies to enhance its resilience. The maximum funding for these awards was £15,000.
Awarded grants
Award 1
Lead PIs: Prof Alistair Young, Dr Pier Giorgio Masci, Prof Claire Steves, Prof Pablo Lamata
Project Title: The Aging Cardiac Digital Twin
Award 2
Lead PI: Prof Claire Steves
Co-Investigators: Dr Rebekah Schiff, Dr Carly Welch, Dr Rosita Zakeri, Dr Kevin O’Gallagher
Project Title: Frail-HFpEF
Award 3
Lead PI: Dr Haseeb Rahman
Co-Investigators: Prof Mike Shattock, Dr Ozlem Ipek, Dr Richard Southworth, Dr Thomas Eykyn, Prof Divaka Perera, Prof Amedeo Chiribiri
Project Title: Investigating Cardiac Energetics Across the Ageing Spectrum Using ³¹Phosphorus Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Differentiating Physiological Ageing from Cardiovascular Disease
Award 4
Lead PI: Dr Anna Zoccarato
Co-Investigator: Prof Ajay Shah
Project Title: A novel in vitro model of the aged human heart to explore age-related changes in metabolism and function
Studentships
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data-Driven Health (DRIVE-Health) at King’s College London and the King’s BHF Centre - Two 4-year studentships have been awarded under this collaboration with a start date of 1 October 2025:
Studentship 1
Lead PI: Dr Maxim Freydin
Co-Investigator: Dr Pier Giorgio Masci
Project Title: Multiomics analysis of ageing heart
Studentship 2
Lead PI: Dr Konstantinos Theofilatos
Co-Investigator: Prof Cathy Shanahan
Project Title: Interrogating smooth muscle cell heterogeneity in vascular ageing and disease using an integrated workflow for scRNAseq
Theme Leads
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Professor in Cardiovascular Imaging and Consultant Cardiologist, Guy’s and St Thomas’
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Professor of Cellular Signalling
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Professor of Ageing and Health
ECR Co-Leads
Theme 3 Affiliated Principal Investigators
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Reader
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Senior Lecturer in Cardiac Mechanobiology
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Professor of Molecular and Digital Pathology
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Reader in Cardiovascular Biology
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Reader in RNA Biology and Immunity
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Professor of Cardiovascular Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
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School Lead People & Culture
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Research Fellow
Network