Heart researcher awarded for stunning image

Image of ‘Peacock Feathers’ that shows skin cells which have been manipulated to become heart muscle cells

Evie Maifoshie, from Imperial College London, has won an award from the British Heart foundation for an image of her research on heart disease.

19 July 2012
Adapted from a news release by British Heart Foundation

'Peacock Feathers' photo showing heart muscle cells

Evie Maifoshie, a PhD student from Imperial College London, has won an award from the British Heart foundation for an image of her research on heart disease.

The image entitled 'Peacock Feathers' shows skin cells which have been manipulated to become heart muscle cells. It won first place in the 'Mending Broken Hearts' category in the charity's national 'Reflections of Research' competition. This special award was given for entries from the field of regenerative medicine.

The British Heart Foundation invited scientists who work on over 1,000 projects across the UK to submit the most exciting images and videos produced in the course of their work. The competition aims to highlight the potential for research to improve heart health in the UK.

The winning images and videos were chosen by a panel of experts made up of renowned anatomist, author and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts, Guardian Science Correspondent Alok Jha and British Heart Foundation Medical Director Professor Peter Weissberg.

Professor Alice Roberts said: "I very much enjoyed judging the images and films this year. The standard of entries was excellent, and it's fascinating to see how visual media like this are helping scientists to understand the structure and function of the body and to communicate this to patients."