An image of blood vessels has won the British Heart Foundation (BHF) prize, celebrating 60 years of research funded by the charity.

The image, submitted by Dr Elisa Avolio of the University of Bristol, is taken from a research project investigating how to encourage growth of new vessels.

By combining different heart cell types with compounds to promote blood vessel growth, and testing these in mice, the team hope to find a way to repair damage after a heart attack.

Chief Executive of the BHF, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, commended the winning image saying it had captured their attention ‘because of the hope it represents for the future of healing damaged hearts.’