BHI Director Gianni Angelini reflects on a turbulent year.
The COVID-19 pandemic made 2020 a year like no other.
It caused major disruption to our cardiovascular research and teaching, which is continuing into 2021. Clinical translation research has virtually stopped, and basic science work has been significantly curtailed by the limited access to laboratories.
Charities, which are the backbone funders of our work, are experiencing unprecedented difficulties and this translates to reduced grant awards. However, the renewal award of our BHF-funded PhD programme in Integrative Cardiovasular Science is excellent news.
And, at the same time, the use of virtual platforms has transformed our work and opened avenues which were unthinkable a year ago. So, despite the gloom and doom, the pandemic is giving us a unique opportunity to regroup and reflect on what we did in the past, and what we can do better in the future.
These are the things that have not changed:
- Our determination to continue to stand out as the leading academic cardiovascular centre in the UK, and amongst the foremost worldwide.
- Our ability to turn innovations into benefit for adult and paediatric patients, and the health system.
- Our creation of an environment where clinicians, basic scientists and clinical research methodologists can thrive, attract the most talented individuals and produce world-leading research.
- Our resolve to facilitate a smooth and timely transition to the next generation of cardiovascular clinicians and researchers.
This last point is possibly the most relevant for somebody heading towards the twilight of his career! We have an obligation to nurture and mentor our future research leaders by encouraging them to build the confidence to lead. We must pay more attention to our early- and mid-career researchers and encourage them to play a major role at the heart of our activities. They are the next generation who will guarantee our continued success.
The future is still there for you to grab: it has not been cancelled.
This post first appeared in the March 2021 BHI Newsletter