Heart research centre for capital

The centre is described as a major boost in the fight against heart disease

A leading heart charity is to team up with a university to establish a multi-million pound research centre.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) plans to establish a centre of research excellence at the University of Edinburgh.

A total of £7.6m will be ploughed into the project over the next six years.

Scientists at the Edinburgh centre will focus on a range of areas, including taking a leading role in international drugs trials.

It is part of a £34m investment by the charity to establish four centres across the United Kingdom.

Scientists hailed the move as providing a "major boost" to the fight against heart disease.

Professor John Mullins, of Edinburgh University, said: "Research will not only focus on treatment but also on prevention and aim to understand why some people appear to be more inherently at risk than others."

The BHF hopes the project will act as a "beacon" to attract the best young scientists.

The three other UK centres are being established at Imperial College London, King's College London and the University of Oxford.