Cheriyan Group · Cambridge University Hospitals · University of Cambridge

Dr Joseph Cheriyan — Cambridge Clinical Research Group

Dr Joseph Cheriyan (MBChB, MA, FRCP, FESC, FACC) leads a clinical research group at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge. The group evaluates novel and repurposed therapeutics in humans — from first-in-human safety through Phase I/II proof-of-efficacy trials — with a particular focus on cardiovascular medicine (hypertension, heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, dyslipidaemia and vascular inflammation) and respiratory medicine (COPD, COVID-19).

The group's AI, digital-biomarker and technology-enabled trial work is delivered through IGNITE — Innovative Group for Novel Interventions, Trials & Experimental Medicine, its Cambridge programme applying artificial intelligence, wearable sensors and adaptive trial methodologies to cardiovascular disease detection, monitoring and treatment.

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Cheriyan Group

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS · UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

FLAGSHIP GLOBAL PROGRAMME · WOMEN’S CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

SHE-HEALS

Stopping atherosclerotic Heart and vEssel disease in women

A global, first-of-its-kind study of how menopause shapes heart health — and whether earlier detection and prevention can stop, or even reverse, silent atherosclerosis in women.

Programme page · GCRFF

A global, women-led collaboration

GCRFF award (Jan 2026): US $10M
From May 2026: 5 yrs
Institutions: 13
Countries: 7

About SHE-HEALS

SHE-HEALS is a US $10 million, five-year international programme awarded in January 2026 through the Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF) International Research Challenge on Women’s Cardiovascular Health. The network spans thirteen institutions across seven countries and is jointly led from the University of Cambridge and the University of Melbourne. Dr Joseph Cheriyan is a Grant Co-applicant and Trial Chief Investigator.

The programme sets out to characterise the vascular biology of the perimenopause, define how age at menopause and hormone therapy shape cardiovascular risk, and deliver the largest trial of its kind to detect silent atherosclerosis in women in perimenopause and early after menopause — testing whether earlier, targeted prevention can halt or reverse progression before symptoms appear.

Programme aims

Detect the silent disease. Change the guidelines.

SHE-HEALS is designed to close a widely missed prevention window in women’s cardiovascular care.

Aim 01

Characterise the perimenopausal vasculature

Use cutting-edge imaging, immune phenotyping and molecular biology to map the arterial changes that emerge during the menopausal transition and drive lifetime cardiovascular risk.

Aim 02

Define how menopause timing and HRT modify risk

Investigate how age at menopause — and whether women take hormone replacement therapy — shapes the trajectory of atherosclerotic disease.

Aim 03

Detect silent atherosclerosis earlier

Establish the largest clinical trial of its kind to identify hidden hardening of the arteries in perimenopausal and early post-menopausal women before symptoms appear.

Aim 04

Test whether early prevention halts or reverses disease

Evaluate whether targeting key risk factors — blood pressure, cholesterol and other modifiable pathways — can stop or reverse atherosclerotic progression, closing a widely-missed prevention window in women’s cardiovascular care.

Cambridge role

Grant Co-applicant & Trial Chief Investigator

The Cambridge site is led by BHF Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine Ziad Mallat, who directs the SHE-HEALS programme with Professor Martha Hickey in Melbourne. Dr Joseph Cheriyan is a Grant Co-applicant and Trial Chief Investigator, with the Cambridge University Hospitals Cardiovascular Trials Office providing clinical trial delivery, imaging and coordination infrastructure to the UK arm of the study.

Cardiovascular Trials Office

Programme leads

Global co-leadership

Global co-lead · University of Cambridge

Professor Ziad Mallat

BHF Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Cambridge and Director of Research at Inserm, France. Elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences for sustained, internationally recognised contributions to cardiovascular immunology and atherosclerosis.

Profile

Global co-lead · University of Melbourne

Professor Martha Hickey

Gynaecologist and researcher who leads Australia’s largest menopause service. Clinical expert for the 2024 UK NICE guidelines on menopause and senior editor for the Cochrane Collaboration, with more than 300 peer-reviewed papers.

Profile

Grant Co-applicant · Trial Chief Investigator

Dr Joseph Cheriyan

Consultant Physician & Clinical Pharmacologist at Cambridge University Hospitals and the University of Cambridge, and Director of the Cardiovascular Trials Office. Leads the UK trial arm of SHE-HEALS.

Profile

Funders

SHE-HEALS is funded by the Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF) through its International Research Challenge on Women’s Cardiovascular Health — a first-of-its-kind $10 million USD network grant. The women’s cardiovascular health workstream is coordinated by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, with participating GCRFF funders that include the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF)
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
British Heart Foundation (BHF)

SHE-HEALS · GCRFFVisit
BHF announcement · January 2026Visit
GCRFF programme description (PDF)Visit

Enquiries

Get in touch with the SHE-HEALS team

For UK enquiries about the SHE-HEALS study — including participation, sponsor and press — please contact the Cambridge trial team.