Heart research wins top prize
A resident doctor at the world‑renowned Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) has earned national recognition for his presentation on heart muscle disease.
Dr Andrew Madu, from Basildon Hospital, has seen his recent research work win an award at the annual conference of the British Inherited Cardiac Conditions Society.
This study examined the vital role of genetics in diagnosing a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood properly.
His research, which received the Best Oral Presentation Award, found that almost one in five patients had a genetic cause behind their heart muscle disease. Identifying this early helps doctors spot family members who may also be at risk and ensure they receive the right care.
Dr Madu said: “Limited access to genetic testing can delay diagnosis and make it harder to identify family members who may also be at risk of potentially life‑threatening inherited heart conditions. The work being done in our Inherited Cardiac Conditions service is helping to address this.
“I was delighted and very humbled to receive this award. It highlights the hard work and commitment of everyone in the service in improving care for patients and their families.”
Since the service began, the team has seen more than 1,400 patients and completed over 650 genetic tests.
Dr Madu’s work is helping to improve understanding of inherited heart disease. He is involved in several research projects with the Heart Failure and Inherited Cardiac Conditions team at the Essex CTC, part of the Trust.