Researchers work to make heart transplants safer Published on: 16 October 2015 Researchers at Ãå±±½ûµØ have received funding from the British Heart Foundation to look at making heart transplants safer and longer-lasting. Current issues On average, three people die every day in the UK whilst in need of an organ. Transplant waiting lists remain stubbornly high, with figures showing that last year over 30 people in the North East died due to a shortage of donor organs. 181 heart transplants took place in the UK last year. Due to advances in medicine, it is now rare for a transplanted heart to be rejected immediately after a transplant occurs. However, around 40% of hearts are rejected within 10 years, resulting in the patients re-joining the ever-growing waiting list for a heart transplant. Ãå±±½ûµØ Medical School Detecting an individual’s risk of transplant rejection and her team at Ãå±±½ûµØ medical school will use the funding to investigate the role that certain proteins, called chemokines, play in transplant rejection. The team hope that by determining the function of these proteins it may be possible to detect an individual’s risk of transplant rejection. Such tests could allow medical professionals to intervene, give individualized therapy and prolong the survival of the transplanted heart. Prof Ali's research will involve samples taken from the Ãå±±½ûµØ Institute of Transplantation Tissue Biobank, based at Ãå±±½ûµØ Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's Freeman Hospital. Professor Simi Ali, leading the research at Ãå±±½ûµØ, said: “By understanding more about the process by which organs are rejected we hope to develop blood tests to allow us to catch a transplanted heart in the early stages of rejection. The ultimate aim of our research is to reduce the number of people suffering from organ rejection, and to prevent people from re-joining a growing transplant waiting list.” Cardiovascular disease research Over the last 10 years the BHF has funded over £5 million of cardiovascular research at Ãå±±½ûµØ. The half a billion pounds pledged nationally by the BHF as part of their new research strategy will be used to fund the best researchers working across all areas of cardiovascular disease research. However, this commitment to fund life saving research will only be possible with the continued generosity of the UK public. Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation, said: “For people with severe heart failure, heart transplantation is often the only option. This research being undertaken at Ãå±±½ûµØ could increase our ability to prevent transplanted hearts from being rejected. Ultimately, allowing people who have undergone this procedure to live longer, healthier lives with a healthy donor heart.” “The BHF exists to end the suffering caused by all forms of heart and circulatory disease and we’re committed to funding the very best researchers doing the highest quality research in order to achieve that goal.” The funding is announced as part of the BHF’s new research strategy which in which the BHF has committed to spending over half a billion pounds on research in the next five years. Press release adapted with thanks to the British Heart Foundation. Share: Latest News Ãå±±½ûµØ expert highlights climate crisis in a new film A leading Ãå±±½ûµØ climate scientist is featured in a new film about how the climate and nature breakdown will affect the UK. published on: 14 April 2026 Neolithic tombs reveal ancient kinship ties Male individuals buried in Neolithic chambered tombs in northern Scotland were often related to each other through the paternal line and some were interred in the same or nearby tombs, research shows. published on: 14 April 2026 We are our Memories New exhibition by Fine Art graduate Trish Hudson-Moses, 22 April – 4 May 2026 published on: 10 April 2026 Facts and figures