Vascular disease is a relatively common condition across the population. Whilst people understand that it causes issues such as heart attacks and stroke, some of the other conditions it causes are less well known, researched and funded. One of the most common forms of vascular disease is peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is when the arteries in your legs are affected by narrowings or blockages and limits the blood flow. PAD leads to pain in the legs that limits walking, ulceration and can lead to amputation. Other conditions are Aortic Aneurysms, which is an abnormal enlargement of the main blood vessel in the body. This can lead to life threatening bleeding. As the Circulation Foundation we also look after Venous disease, an issue that can cause debilitating leg ulceration.
Even though vascular disease is so widely prevalent in our society, it is an underfunded in the field of medical research. The Circulation Foundation is committed to funding programmes of research which captures vascular colleagues throughout their career journey to ensure we are advancing the care of our patients, but also, supporting our colleagues. We hope to support and build a strong vascular research community in the UK.
Our Mission
To promote and fund pioneering research into vascular disease, that:
Ultimately, we are keen to support colleagues in developing methods that will improve our patients and carers experience, safety and outcomes. This will include techniques that improve early diagnosis, better risk management and monitoring, and improved and wider methods of treatment.
You can support this work through donating to, or fundraising for, the Circulation Foundation and have a direct effect on the future care the Vascular Healthcare Professionals can provide to their patients.
Why is research important?
Vascular research faces a number of opportunities and challenges arising from the combination of an explosion of scientific knowledge and technologies, with a reducing pool of resources. However, we know we need to continue to strive for improvements.
How the Circulation Foundation, through your donations and fundraising, has made a difference
Whilst the Circulation Foundation has funded numerous indviduals to undertake research, below a few members of our Alumni provide details of their Circulation Foundation Research Fellowship, and how it made a difference to the patients we care for, the wider vascular community, and their careers.
This has only been enabled by your donations and fundraising:
For details of the current and previous Research Fellowships and Awards, please visit: Fellowships | Vascular Society
Vascular Research UK
If you are a healthcare professional, patient, or carer, interested in knowing more about vascular research we would suggest visiting the Vascular Research UK website through the below link. Vascular Research UK is responsible for supporting the development and delivery of high-quality multi-centre studies by the Vascular Community. These research programmes will be aligned with the top research priorities of clinicians, patients and those with lived experience of Vascular disease. The Vascular Research UK website is run by the Vascular Surgical Speciality Lead team of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in association with the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
About - Vascular Research UK