Scottish Rugby star Gavin Hastings has kicked off the appeal for the new BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre with a donation of £5M which he received on behalf of the University of Glasgow from Major-General Leslie Busk, Director General of the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The centre, which is due to open on the main University campus in 2003 at a cost of £10.8M, will provide the West of Scotland with a base dedicated to targeting and combating the many problems associated with heart disease.

It will offer state of the art facilities and will bring together researchers of international standing who are currently working in separate units across the city. In addition to the major donation from the BHF, the University is donating £2M toward the centre.

Professor Sir Charles George, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, says; "Today is an exciting day for heart research. The BHF is very pleased to be involved in this project and believe that the research carried out at this centre will bring real benefits to heart patients in the future - both in Scotland and the rest of the UK."

Welcoming the donation, the Principal of the University, Professor Sir Graeme Davies, said: "Thanks to the vision and generosity of the British Heart Foundation we can look forward to facilities which will do justice to the expertise of our scientists and clinicians. It is particularly encouraging that this work will be taking place in the West of Scotland, a community where it is most desperately needed."

Professor Anna Dominiczak, BHF Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Director of the centre, said: "This new centre will fulfil our dream of bringing together on a single site a wide range of cardiovascular research effort. This will promote collaboration across many different disciplines, from the molecular genetic basis of cardiovascular disease through physiology, pathology and pathophysiology to patient-centred studies. It will enhance the integration of research and clinical practise which will lead to patients benefiting more quickly from scientific advances."

The BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre will be built alongside the new Medical School Building which is nearing completion. A third building to house the new Bio-Medical Research Centre is scheduled for an adjacent site. This triangle of excellence in medical education and research will represent an investment of almost £50M.

The British Heart Foundation is a major national charity that plays a leading role in the fight against heart and circulatory disease, the UK's biggest killer. It is the largest independent funder of heart research in the UK. The Foundation also plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care. It receives no government funding.

For information about the appeal or to make donations contact 0141-330 4951

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Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

Pictures of Gavin Hastings kicking off the campaign will be available on this site shortly

For further information contact:

BHF Press Office: Jo Hudson 0207 487 7178 Hudsonj@bhf.org.uk

or ? University of Glasgow Press Office: 0141 330 3535

press@gla.ac.uk

First published: 6 December 2001