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REPORT

Report of the General Board on the establishment of a British Heart Foundation Professorship of Cardiovascular Sciences

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. Coronary heart disease remains among the major causes of mortality in the United Kingdom, and in a White Paper, 'Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation' the Government has set out a commitment to reduce the death-rate from heart disease by 40 per cent by 2010, and such related illnesses as stroke, in those under the age of 75. In 1994, recognizing the importance of cardiovascular medicine as a major field of medicine, the University accepted the academic case for a major development of teaching and research in cardiology and approved the establishment of a Professorship of Cardiovascular Medicine supported by funds provided under the British Heart Foundation's personal Professorship scheme (Reporter, 1993-94, p. 893).

2. The Cardiovascular Unit within the Department of Medicine has grown substantially since 1994 and is involved in a major research programme focussed on the cell and molecular biology of atherosclerosis. Cardiology and cardiovascular medicine are also important parts of undergraduate and postgraduate medical teaching which draw upon the resources of pre-clinical as well as clinical Departments in the University, and also Addenbrooke's and Papworth Hospitals.

3. In order to facilitate collaboration and interaction in this field of research the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine have created the Cambridge Centre for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Research. This provides a forum for strategic development of research and brings together representatives from the School of Clinical Medicine, certain Departments within the School of the Biological Sciences, and the Papworth and Addenbrooke's NHS Trusts. The Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine consider that, given this opportunity for further developments in collaborative research, and the major developments that have already been achieved in teaching and research within cardiology, it would now be appropriate to further strengthen the Clinical School's position in this field through the establishment of a Professorship of Cardiovascular Sciences.

4. The British Heart Foundation remains a major influence on the development of academic cardiology in the UK, and provides significant support in Cambridge. In addition to funding the Professorship of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Foundation has provided funds towards the Clinical School's new laboratories in the Addenbrooke's Centre for Clinical Investigation where the Cardiovascular Unit is now accommodated. In 1997-98, the Foundation supported research in Cambridge through ninety-six grants, the total expenditure from which was £2,121,564.

5. The Foundation has now indicated that it would be willing to support the full cost of a Professorship of Cardiovascular Sciences under its scheme whereby funds are provided on a five-year rolling basis to support the full cost of a personal Professorship at a UK university for a named individual, nominated by the institution, together with an allowance for the Professor's support costs. The scheme requires that, as well as an outstanding academic record, any potential candidate should already be in receipt of a BHF Programme Grant or an equivalent level of support from another grant-giving organization. In the Lent Term 1999, the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine, as part of their strategy for considering academic development in cardiology, requested the General Board to approve the nomination of Dr M.R. Bennett (BHF Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine) to the Foundation for this Professorship.

6. The General Board have accepted the academic grounds for the establishment of this Professorship of Cardiovascular Sciences. The Board agreed to follow the same procedure as that adopted in 1994 for the election of the Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, namely the appointment of an Advisory Committee, constituted along the lines of a Board of Electors, to advise them on the Faculty Board's proposals. The membership of the Committee was as follows: the Regius Professor of Physic, Professor M.J. Brown, CAI, Professor D. de Bono, Professor B. Pentecost, Professor P. Poole-Wilson, Professor J. Savill, Dr L. Shapiro, Professor J. G. P. Sissons, DAR, Professor P. L. Weissberg, W, and Mr F. Wells. The Committee considered potential candidates from within and outside the UK. On the advice of the Com-mittee, the General Board agreed to approve the nomination of Dr Bennett, and, subject to its acceptance by the Foundation, to propose the establishment of a British Heart Foundation Professorship of Cardiovascular Sciences for his tenure.

7. The British Heart Foundation has recently informed the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine that, consequent on international peer review through its Chairs and Programme Grants Committee, the nomination has been approved and that funding for the proposed Professorship, if established by the University, together with support costs, will be provided for five years in the first instance from 1 October 2000, continued thereafter, subject to five-yearly reviews. The Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine have agreed to meet the cost of the Professorship for the remainder of Dr Bennett's tenure in the event of the Foundation terminating its funding for the Professorship. The Addenbrooke's NHS Trust and the Papworth NHS Trust have agreed to provide access to beds and clinical facilities and to award Honorary Consultant contracts to the Professor. The General Board have ascertained that Dr Bennett is willing to accept appointment to the Professorship, if established. The Board have accordingly agreed to propose the establishment of a British Heart Foundation Professorship of Cardiovascular Sciences for Dr Bennett in the Department of Medicine from 1 October 2000.

8. The General Board recommend:

I. That a British Heart Foundation Professorship of Cardiovascular Sciences be established in the University for one tenure from 1 October 2000, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes and assigned to the Department of Medicine.

II. That Dr M.R. Bennett, British Heart Foundation Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine, be appointed to the Professorship.

12 July 2000

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Cambridge University Reporter, 9 August 2000
Copyright © 2000 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.