Theme Lead: Professor Michelle Williams
Cardiovascular imaging provides detailed insights into heart and circulatory diseases, but unlocking its full potential requires linking imaging data with other healthcare datasets and applying advanced AI and machine learning techniques. These approaches present technical, governance, and analytical challenges. We’re addressing these challenges by improving imaging data accessibility, supporting research, and developing new methodologies to drive impactful discoveries.
What we do
We work with researchers, clinicians, data custodians, and patient representatives to:
- Improve access to imaging datasets for cardiovascular research
- Develop tools to enhance the usability and quality of imaging data
- Explore new approaches, such as synthetic data and federated analysis, to enable large scale research
- Ensure research aligns with public priorities through patient and public involvement
Key areas of work
Establishing Cardiovascular Imaging Research Priorities
We collaborated with over 80 experts to identify and prioritise 500 key research questions in cardiovascular imaging. Using a structured framework, we distilled these into a Top 10 list, focusing on patient impact, feasibility, and potential to reduce healthcare inequalities.
Read the full workshop report.
View the research priorities publication.
Engaging Patients and the Public
To support us with setting research priorities, we co-designed a public survey to align research with patient needs and priorities. The findings will continue to guide our work, ensuring imaging research delivers the greatest public benefit.
Read the survey report.
Watch our PPIE webinar.
SHIELD-CVD
ScottisH medical Imaging dataset with Evaluation of Linked Data for CardioVascular Disease (SHIELD-CVD)
Unlocking the Potential of Imaging Data for Cardiovascular Research
The Scottish Medical Imaging (SMI) dataset is a pioneering national resource, encompassing over 57 million de-identified imaging examinations collected across Scotland between 2010 and 2018. Managed by Public Health Scotland, this dataset represents the UK’s first comprehensive compilation of routinely collected imaging data.
Despite its vast potential, the SMI dataset remains underutilised in cardiovascular research. A significant barrier is the lack of accessible information regarding the types of cardiovascular imaging available and their corresponding disease representations, making it challenging for researchers to plan and conduct studies effectively.
About SHIELD-CVD
SHIELD-CVD (ScottisH medical Imaging dataset with Evaluation of Linked Data for CardioVascular Disease) is a collaborative initiative led by the British Heart Foundation Data Science Centre, in partnership with Public Health Scotland and experts from King’s College London. The project’s primary aim is to enhance the usability and accessibility of the SMI dataset for cardiovascular research.
Our Objectives
- Enhance Dataset Transparency: Provide clear, detailed information on imaging modalities and their disease representations within the SMI dataset.
- Streamline Governance Processes: Simplify the administrative procedures required for researchers to access and utilise the dataset.
- Develop Reusable Curation Tools: Create and share code and methodologies that facilitate efficient data curation and analysis.
- Apply FAIR Principles: Ensure the dataset is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable, aligning with best practices in data management.
SHIELD-CVD webinars
Click here to access the recordings of the previous SHIELD-CVD webinars:
Accessing the SMI Dataset
Researchers interested in utilising the SMI dataset must submit an application to NHS Scotland’s Public Benefit and Privacy Panel for Health and Social Care (PBPP). To assist in this process, the BHF Data Science Centre will provide a sample application and supporting documents, which can serve as a reference for prospective applicants. We will share this information here when it is available.
We encourage researchers to engage with us prior to submission to discuss potential support and guidance.
Reusable curation tools
Reusable code for data curation will be shared on the BHF Data Science Centre GitHub site. Access that here.
Collaborate with Us
SHIELD-CVD is committed to fostering a collaborative research environment. By improving access to and understanding of the SMI dataset, we aim to empower researchers to conduct impactful cardiovascular studies that ultimately benefit patients and the wider public.
Scaling Up Imaging Research using Advanced Methods
We are exploring two key approaches to enable secure, large-scale research:
- Synthetic Data – Running an open challenge to develop AI models using synthetic ECG images, with the winning entry showcased at the European Society of Cardiology Conference 2025.
- Federated Analysis – Conducting a national survey to assess researcher needs and opportunities for federated data analysis.
Driving Policy and Implementation
Professor Michelle Williams contributed to British Standard BS 30440, a framework guiding the validation and deployment of AI tools in NHS healthcare. This ensures that AI-driven imaging research translates into real-world patient benefits.
Areas of work
Find out more about our data-led research.
Whole Population Data
We aim to improve access to and use of high-quality, linked health datasets covering entire populations across the UK.
Defining Disease
To drive large-scale, data-driven research, we’re working to develop and share reusable definitions of cardiovascular diseases in computable forms. These definitions enable researchers to interpret and use health data, leading to more accurate and reproducible studies.
Enhancing Cohorts
We’re working to accelerate health data research by making it easier, faster, and more secure to link data from clinical cohorts with routine health records. This approach will help researchers uncover new insights into disease causes, progression, and treatment, improving patient care and outcomes.
Data Enabled Clinical Trials
By integrating routinely collected NHS health data into clinical trials, we’re helping researchers recruit participants more effectively, reduce administrative burdens, and generate real-world evidence that can lead to quicker, more impactful advances in cardiovascular care.
Smartphones and Wearables
We’re working to unlock the potential of smartphone and wearable data to discover new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cardiovascular disease, by establishing secure access to and fair use of smartphone and wearable data linked to healthcare records.
CVD-COVID-UK / COVID-IMPACT
One of seven National Flagship Projects approved by the NIHR-BHF Cardiovascular Partnership, linking population healthcare datasets across the UK to understand the relationship between COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases.
Diabetes Data Science Catalyst
This exciting partnership between the BHF Data Science Centre, Diabetes UK and HDR UK aims to develop improvements in our understanding of the link between cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Stroke Data Science Catalyst
This partnership between the BHF Data Science Centre, HDR UK and the Stroke Association will enable researchers to securely access, link and analyse existing UK health data, speeding up the search for better stroke prevention, treatments and care.
Kidney Data Science Catalyst
This partnership between the BHF Data Science Centre, Kidney Research UK and HDR UK will enable researchers to securely access, link and analyse existing UK health data, speeding up the search for better kidney and cardiovascular disease prevention, treatments, and care.