Research to find solutions to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance

New research by the University of Birmingham and funded by the British Heart Foundation will study the damage caused to the smallest vessels of the heart following a heart attack. Researchers at the University have developed a state-of-the-art imaging technique, which was funded by a previous BHF grant. This particular microscopy technique allows them to look in detail at microvessels in the beating heart. Microvessels are so small that they cannot be seen when using standard scans for heart conditions, such as an angiogram or echocardiogram. The BHF has now awarded £153,000 of PhD studentship funding to the University to study these tiny vessels, which play a crucial role in regulating blood supply to the heart. During a heart attack, microvessels become dysfunctional and contribute to organ damage. The new funding will also allow researchers, using the University's novel imaging technique, to assess the impact that a protein called IL-36 has on the heart's microvessels following a heart attack.