Southport MP Damien Moore Celebrates 60 Years of Life Saving British Heart Foundation Research

Damien Moore, MP for Southport, pledged to work with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to help make “science fiction a reality” during a special event in Parliament.

The event, held on Wednesday 2nd March, celebrated the BHF’s 60th birthday and the pioneering research it has funded. 

Mr. Moore learned more about the BHF’s life saving research over the last six decades and met with some of the BHF-funded researchers who have made these advances possible.

Since the BHF launched in 1961, the number of people dying from heart and circulatory diseases in the UK each year has halved. 

BHF-funded research also contributed to the first UK heart transplant, and the charity was behind discoveries that revealed the cause of a heart attack, helping to transform treatments ever since. 

The BHF’s research has also identified many of the genes responsible for conditions that cause sudden heart attacks and cardiac arrests, meaning people can be identified before these deadly events strike.

Today, the BHF is the UK’s biggest non-commercial funder of research into heart and circulatory diseases. However, despite six decades of progress, there is still more to do to improve the lives of the 7.6 million people in the UK who are living with these conditions. 

The leading charity is now urging more people to donate to the BHF so that it can help turn more mind-blowing ideas from the realms of science fiction into lifesaving treatments and potential cures.

Damien Moore, MP for Southport, said: “I was delighted to meet with researchers from the British Heart Foundation in Parliament and learn more about the huge advances that the charity has made possible over the last 60 years.“Today, heart and circulatory diseases are some of the biggest killers in the UK, so it is vital that the British Heart Foundation continues to receive support to help fund the scientific breakthroughs of the future.“I look forward to working with the British Heart Foundation to help highlight the crucial role it plays in the United Kingdom’s research and development landscape, and to help highlight how the work it funds benefits all of us here in Southport.”Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: “It was great to speak with Damien Moore to not only recognise the improvements made for people living with heart and circulatory conditions across the UK, but to also highlight the progress we urgently need for those living in his constituency of Southport.“Beating heart and circulatory diseases is still one of the world’s biggest challenges and, despite huge steps forward over the last 60 years, the BHF’s research has never been more needed.“We want to thank all MPs and peers who attended our parliamentary reception and signed our pledge to help make science fiction a reality. We look forward to working with them in the future.”