BRITISH Heart Foundation has grown its lifesaving research portfolio to nearly £500 million, the largest since the Covid pandemic, as it continues to deliver for people’s hearts today and strengthen the foundations for a new era in heart health, according to its latest annual report.
Already one of the world’s largest funders of cardiovascular research, BHF awarded £103 million in new research during 2025-26, increasing its entire research portfolio by nearly £23 million year-on-year to £485 million, and supporting nearly 1,300 researchers across 45 institutions in the UK and beyond.
The growth builds on the charity’s 65 years of backing the best science and scientists to power the breakthroughs of tomorrow and is vital to BHF’s bold ambitions for 2035: to stop heart disease before it starts, save more lives and support everyone with heart disease live a longer, healthier life.
The scale of BHF’s ambition is deliberate to match the scale of today’s heart health challenge. Cardiovascular disease remains the world’s biggest killer, with more than 8 million people in the UK living with cardiovascular disease and a family losing a loved one to a heart or circulatory condition every three minutes. Waiting lists for treatment are still too long, and stark health inequalities mean people in deprived areas suffer far worse heart health outcomes than those in more affluent communities.
BHF can only address these urgent challenges by significantly scaling up income generation and the research breakthroughs and direct support this enables.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of BHF, said:
“Our annual report shows BHF at its best: protecting hearts today, backing world-class science and building the foundations for even bigger breakthroughs tomorrow.
“Thanks to our incredible supporters, we expanded our research portfolio to the highest level since the pandemic, reached millions of people with trusted health information and support and delivered a record year for fundraising despite significant external pressures.
“These pressures mean we must also now make difficult decisions, including proposed shop closures, to protect sustainable income for lifesaving research.
“This is a new era for heart health – one of immense challenge in which a family loses a loved one to cardiovascular disease every three minutes, but also one of extraordinary scientific opportunity to save and improve more lives. Realising that potential will depend on us protecting and growing our income, as well as strong political support and action to ensure a vibrant UK life sciences sector that can turn world-leading research into progress for patients at a time when it has never been more needed.”
Protecting hearts today
BHF’s Annual Report 2026 shows its Heart Helpline and online health information were used more than 35 million times by patients and families, and the charity reached a milestone of 500,000 people who have completed CPR training with BHF’s app RevivR.
Thanks to generous supporters and partners, and despite significant external pressures, BHF secured a record £62 million in fundraising income and more than £105 million from legacies.
However, these pressures hit the charity’s shops harder with rising costs and changing shopping and donation habits, meaning BHF must adapt. Following the end of the annual reporting period, BHF proposed in June 2026 to close 150 shops – about a quarter of its retail estate – over two years – to protect contributions towards lifesaving research.
Powering breakthroughs tomorrow
A focus on increasing future impact runs throughout the report, with BHF strengthening foundations in many areas so it can deliver major income growth and power more lifesaving research breakthroughs. This includes transforming research funding schemes, making strategic research investments such as £10 million for the BHF Data Science Centre, and a stronger emphasis on partnership working to leverage additional funding and drive better outcomes for heart patients, such as BHF’s support for a $55 million global women’s heart health programme led by Wellcome Leap, with support from Pivotal.
In addition, BHF is investing in bigger, bolder research programmes, such as the launch of a £10 million AI-themed Cardiovascular Grand Challenge, which will be awarded in 2026-27.
Outside of research, the charity is investing in a major technology transformation programme to enhance the systems, data and processes that support its work, especially in communicating with supporters.
Championing the UK’s life sciences sector
BHF’s growing research portfolio reflects its belief in the potential of UK cardiovascular science and talent. But turning world-leading research into progress for patients will also require strong Government support for life sciences. The Government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan sets out a welcome ambition for the UK to lead in Europe by 2030; it must now be delivered in partnership with funders like BHF to unlock future breakthroughs.
You can read full details of BHF’s activity in 2025-26 by downloading the report: Annual Report and Accounts 2026 – BHF.
For more information, contact the BHF’s Newsdesk on 0207 554 0164 or email newsdesk@bhf.org.uk.
