Karin Smyth MP heard how UK medical research is helping to save and improve the lives of the millions of people affected by heart disease, when she joined British Heart Foundation scientists at an event in Parliament.
The Labour MP talked with researchers to learn more about the latest projects, the hope they offer people with heart conditions, and why government support is vital.
“An estimated 12,760 people in Bristol South are living with heart and circulatory disease; devastating conditions which cause a quarter of all UK deaths,” said Karin Smyth.
“Public support helps charities like the British Heart Foundation fund some of the world’s leading researchers, working for the next major breakthrough to help save more lives.
“The combination of public support and government funding is key to further great strides in heart research.”
The government’s science budget is currently protected from cuts to expenditure, but only until April 2016. Any cut to science spending would put future and current research projects that could help save more lives at serious risk. The British Heart Foundation is calling on the Government to maintain the current ring-fencing of the science budget and to commit to future increases.