The Magdi Yacoub Institute

29/09/2026

There are still so many unanswered questions about the heart. Research is how we begin to answer them.

This , we’re taking you inside the Magdi Yacoub Institute to meet some of the people helping to push cardiovascular research forward.

Every day, our researchers work to understand the complex processes that affect how the heart functions, building knowledge that could help shape better cardiovascular care for patients in the future.

Behind every experiment, every question and every discovery is a shared ambition: to improve our understanding of the heart and ultimately help change lives.

Today, we celebrate the people behind that research and everyone around the world working towards a healthier future for our hearts.

Learn more about our research and support the crucial work we are doing to change lives:
https://magdiyacoub.org/

Magdi Yacoub

22/09/2026

“Forever grateful to Sir Magdi and to my donor for giving me the chance of becoming a husband and father.”

This Organ Donation Week, we’re sharing the remarkable story of Bert Janssen and celebrating the extraordinary gift of organ donation.

In 1984, Bert received a donor heart in a transplant performed by Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub at Harefield Hospital. Four decades later, Bert reflected on the life that gift made possible.

“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for giving me a chance to build a good, happy family life. I would never have thought to have so many bonus years, but even after 41 years I am staying stable and my clock ticks on.”

For Bert, a donated heart meant far more than a medical procedure. It meant the chance to live, to become a husband and father, and to experience decades of moments that may otherwise never have been possible.

Stories like Bert’s remind us why advancing cardiovascular research matters.

At the Magdi Yacoub Institute, we are working to deepen our understanding of cardiovascular disease and drive discoveries that could help shape better treatments and healthier futures for generations to come.

This , we celebrate the generosity of organ donors and their families, and the researchers and medical teams working to transform what is possible for people living with heart disease.

Learn more about our research and support the crucial work we are doing to change lives https://magdiyacoub.org/get-involved/

17/09/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday, Dana! 🎂❤️

Today everyone at the Magdi Yacoub Institute sends our warmest Birthday wishes to Dana Widad Shami-Karaket, Chair of the Friends of MYI.

Dana, your warmth, generosity and unwavering support mean so much to us. You are a wonderful friend and champion of the Institute, your commitment to our mission and to advance cardiovascular research helps us to continue the work that is so important to Prof and the entire MYI family.

We are incredibly gratefully to have you as part of the MYI family and and hope that today brings you all the love and celebration that you deserve.

Happy Birthday from all of us at MYI! 🎈🥂❤️

15/09/2026

Understanding the heart today could help change lives tomorrow.

How the heart moves and how it produces and responds to electrical activity are closely connected and understanding that relationship can help researchers learn more about how the heart works.

At the Magdi Yacoub Institute, our Cardiac Biophysics and Systems Biology researchers bring together engineering, biophysics, biology and computing to investigate the heart from individual cells through to the whole organ.

By combining experimental and computational methods, the team is building our understanding of cardiac structure and function and addressing clinically relevant questions in cardiovascular research.

Every new piece of knowledge can contribute to progress. Research today has the potential to inform new approaches to cardiovascular care and ultimately improve and save lives in the future.

Learn more about our research, or support the work we do, via the link below.

https://magdiyacoub.org/research/

Magdi Yacoub

04/09/2026

The Magdi Yacoub Institute is proud to celebrate the birthday of Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, one of the world’s most renowned cardiac surgeons and a pioneer whose work has had a profound impact on cardiovascular medicine and on countless lives around the world.

To mark this special milestone, we’re creating something that reflects the people at the heart of his story, a collaborative mosaic mural made up of photographs from people everywhere.
Every photograph will become part of a much larger artwork, bringing together individual faces, memories and stories to represent the many lives touched by Professor Sir Magdi’s extraordinary work and vision.

We’d love for you to be part of it.

Share your photo and help us create a mural that celebrates 90 years of Professor Sir Magdi and the global community inspired by his work.

👉 Join the mural at magdiyacoubmural.co.uk

One photo. One story. One part of something much bigger.

28/08/2026

Behind every breakthrough is research.

What does cardiovascular research actually look like?

At The Magdi Yacoub Institute, scientists and researchers are working to better understand some of the biggest challenges in cardiovascular medicine.

From the laboratory to international research collaborations, the work being carried out today could help shape the treatments and care of tomorrow.

Over the coming weeks, we'll be sharing more of the story behind the science, introducing the researchers, exploring the work taking place in our laboratories and showing why cardiovascular research matters.
Follow The Magdi Yacoub Institute to stay connected with our research and discover more about the people working towards the future of cardiovascular care.

And if you're interested in the wider work and legacy of Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, follow his page to discover more.

Magdi Yacoub

10/08/2026

Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) and President of the American University of Sharjah (AUS), has formally accepted the patronage of the Magdi Yacoub Institute (MYI), marking a new chapter in establishing a collaboration between Sharjah and this world-leading centre for cardiovascular research.

During a visit to the Magdi Yacoub Institute Heart Science Centre in Harefield, the patronage is a mutual commitment to advancing scientific discovery, regenerative cardiac medicine and international research collaboration. It also reinforces Sharjah’s growing role in supporting global innovation that delivers tangible benefits for humanity.

Her Highness was received by Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, Founder and Director of the Institute, along with Maria Rogers Chief Executive Officer of the MYI. She was accompanied by His Excellency Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Chief Executive Officer of SPARK, and Dr Asma Mahmoud Fikri, Director of Government and Corporate Partnerships at SPARK.

During the visit, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub and researchers from the Magdi Yacoub Institute and Heart Biotech presented an overview of their respective scientific programmes, including the Institute's research portfolio and the latest progress on the Yacoub Heart Valve. Her Highness toured the laboratories, meeting researchers and witnessing first-hand the advances being made in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

04/08/2026

04/08/2026

10/06/2026

Congratulations to our very own Dana Widad Shami-Karaket on being awarded the Freedom of the City of London at a ceremony in Guildhall, London on 9 June in recognition of her outstanding philanthropic work.

Dana has been a dedicated supporter of the MYI, and we are deeply grateful for her commitment, generosity, and belief in the work we do. Through her support, she has helped us create meaningful change and positively impact the lives of those we serve.

This prestigious honour reflects Dana's remarkable commitment to supporting the MYI and others creating meaningful change through her generosity and dedication. Her tireless efforts and compassion have made a lasting impact on countless lives, making this recognition both fitting and richly deserved.

Speaking about the award, Dana said she was "delighted and humbled to receive such a prestigious award, and it gives me even more determination to continue my mission to help humanity across the world."

A proud and historic achievement that celebrates not only personal success but also a deep commitment to giving back. Congratulations, Dana, on this exceptional honour and thank you for the difference you continue to make