Cardiovascular research has been a major strength of the Leicester Medical School since its inception. This was confirmed by the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. The Department of Cardiovascular Sciences has strong links with the NHS and an excellent record in student training. The quality of the cardiovascular research undertaken in Leicester has been further recognised by the award of a National Institute of National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease. 

Cardiovascular research has been a major strength of the Leicester Medical School since its inception.  In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise 95% of the cardiovascular research in Leicester was considered to be of international level, over half the submitted outputs ranked as outstanding or excellent and one in seven of the submitted research outputs ranked as world-leading.

The Department has more than 160 staff and postgraduate students, including over 40 academic staff and is part of theCollege of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology.