I am delighted to share the significant progress and achievements we have made together. Your unwavering support continues to inspire and empower us to make a meaningful difference. Research is crucial to ensuring
excellence in the prevention and treatment of
cardiovascular disease both now and in the future. In this first issue newsletter, you will find extracts from the team’s latest papers.
I am also pleased to share with you an update from our incredibly successful event in May 2024 at the Royal College of Music. Together, we are making a meaningful impact on the lives of those who need it most.
With my very best wishes,
Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub FRS OM
Founder, Director of Research
A multidisciplinary team of clinicians, biologists, engineers, and material scientists is advancing heart valve disease research by exploring the mechanisms behind calcification and congenital valve issues. Our team is dedicated to pioneering tissue engineering solutions that translate lab discoveries into life-saving clinical treatments.
The teams at the MYI have been actively publishing their research. One of their latest papers is featured here:
3 Jan 2024Glob Cardiol Sci Pract2024(1):e202403 Co-authorsYacoub MH, Afifi A, Hosny H, Mahgoub A, Nagy M, Vaz S, Sarathchandra P, Latif N
Introducing The ViVitro Pulse Duplicator System, an innovative piece of equipment used in the labs at the Heart Science Centre. This is the world's most widely used and cited invitro testing system for aortic, pulmonary, tricuspid, and mitral prosthetic valves.
This system simulates heart function by generating pulsatile flow through prosthetic heart valves (mechanical, biological, or polymeric) placed in a model of either the left or right heart.
We are delighted to be hosting the 10th Heart Valve Biology and Tissue Engineering Meeting, at The Royal Society in London.
17th-19th September 2025
This event will provide a premier forum for discussing the latest advancements in the field with international scientists. The programme will include presentations from the MYI team, together with other experts in the field, offering insights into cutting-edge research and future developments.
To register your interest or to sponsor the event, please visit https://www.hvbte.org/ for more details or email Dr Yuan-Tsan Tseng at y.tseng@imperial.ac.uk
May 2024 - An Evening with Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub and Omar Kamal. Our event in May event, which took place at the Royal College of Music, was a tremendous success, raising almost £200,000.
The funds gathered will play a significant role in developing our research programmes and supporting our research teams. During the reception, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub gave a heartfelt speech where he expressed his thanks for all the donations and support to MYI. Following on, the event moved onto an exciting auction, masterfully conducted by the renowned Lord Jeffrey Archer. The auction featured an array of exclusive items and experiences, sparking lively bidding wars among the generous guests. The highlight of the evening was a glittering concert by Omar Kamal, often hailed as the Frank Sinatra of the Middle East, and his musicians. Kamal’s performance captivated the audience, blending classic tunes with his unique charm and vocal prowess.
A heartfelt thank you to all who attended and contributed. A special thanks to all our supporters and our Friends Committee, chaired by Mrs Dana Widad Shami-Karaket.
To sponsor our runners and support lifesaving research click here
We're thrilled to announce our new campaign, 'Wear Your Heart', launching in late October.
Join us in showcasing our custom, eco-friendly t-shirts adorned with heart-inspired designs. Want to be part of the movement? email bella@magdiyacoub.co.uk to get involved and snap some photos in your t-shirt!
Mark your calendars - our exclusive t-shirts drop in November on our website and Depop. Every purchase supports our vital research programs. Together, let's make a difference.
Donate
Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Make a donation today.
Leave a Legacy
Leave a legacy in your will to create a brighter future for those suffering from heart disease.
Offer Matched Funding
Company matched funding is a program where a company matches the donations made by its
employees to charities. This means that when an
employee donates a certain amount of money
to a charity, the company will contribute an equal amount, effectively doubling the donation.
Please contact bella@magdiyacoub.co.uk to discuss ways to support.
A group of dedicated individuals who guide our fundraising strategies and advise on our fundraising, communications and events. Click here to view their bios.
Mrs Dana Widad Shami-Karaket (Chair)
Prof Mahmoud Barbir
Ms Lisa Yacoub
Mr Tawhid Abdullah
Ms Bella Shanagher
Meet The Next Generation Committee - a team of young professionals who support us with our fundraising initiatives and events.
Here is a quote from Edouard on why he got involved with the MYI:
When I found out that there was a chance that I could get involved at MYI, I knew I’d have to do it. Following my mother’s recent battles with her heart, I was acutely aware of the importance of cardiovascular research and how much it can improve people’s lives. MYI and Institutes alike have forged inroads that have ameliorated the suffering of my mother and millions of others. It is a joy and honour to help raise awareness on behalf of MYI so that innovation and expertise in heart disease can continue to develop.
In February 2006, at just 12 years old, Hannah Clarke went into life-saving surgery under Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub and the cardiac team at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
This ground-breaking surgery made medical history with the discovery that the heart has the capacity to recover after total heart failure. Hannah had her original heart transplant under the care of Prof Yacoub at Harefield hospital at the age of 2 years, where he carried out a piggy-back transplant - with the new transplanted donor heart connected up to the original heart. However, after a few years Hannah was found to have developed a rare form of cancer that was caused by the immunosuppressant drugs to prevent her body rejecting the new organ. Hannah's donor heart began to fail, and she was once again on the edge of life.
Mrs. Clark revealed that the cardiac team at the Great Ormond Street Hospital were initially hesitant to remove the donor heart and reconnect her dormant one, as it had never been done before. However, Professor Magdi Yacoub and Prof Tsang moved forward and performed the surgery, the first of its kind. The outcome of the surgery was described as "miraculous" with Hannahs's original failed heart now beating
normally. This discovery made world news. Following her surgery, Hannah recovered well, she is living life to the full and she now has three children. We were delighted to welcome her on stage at our event in May. Hannah’s story is a powerful reminder that without medical research and cardiac innovation we cannot go forward and find ground-breaking developments that help save lives.
To learn more about the Institute and Hannah’s
story, click here: Film
Acknowledgments: J Creative, Lisa Yacoub, Edouard de Bray
