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It is estimated that at least 12 young people die suddenly every week in the UK from undiagnosed cardiac conditions. However, due to a lack of awareness and funding - that often leads to the incorrect or inconclusive recording of the cause of death -  it is believed that this figure could be the ‘tip of the iceberg.’

The CRY Centre for Cardiac Pathology (CRY CCP) is based at the world famous Royal Brompton Hospital and was jointly established with support from Imperial College London.

Funded by CRY, the new centre will allow coroners to refer cases directly and receive a full report of the actual cause of death, usually within 2 weeks.

Currently, some families have to endure a wait of anything from three to eighteen months for answers after their tragedy.

CRY awarded a grant in excess of £200,000 to one the world’s leading cardiac pathology experts, Dr Mary Sheppard, to oversee the running of the CRY CCP.

A 10 month pilot of the service was initially run at the Royal Brompton in 2008 – during which time the team received direct referrals from almost 100 coroners across the UK.  

Download CRY CCP information leaflet

Left to right: Rupert Hunter, Stephanie Hunter and CRY Patron Simon Halliday.  Their fundraising efforts led to the creation of the CRY CCP

Following this successful trial, fast track cardiac pathology referrals are now an established CRY service, which has seen a steady increase in uptake year-on-year.

The grant from CRY comes as a result of the staggering efforts of a Surrey family [the Hunters] - who lost both a father and teenage son to sudden cardiac death –  and also thanks to two fundraising events in 2006, instigated by CRY Patron Simon Halliday.

Sebastian English (aged just 15) died playing rugby 10 years after his father Howard died - also playing rugby - because his family were unaware he had a genetic condition, highlighting the importance of a correct pathology diagnosis for appropriate family referral and screening.

The CRY CCP will also allow Dr Sheppard and her team to carry out vital, ongoing research into the pathology of conditions that can cause young sudden cardiac death.

Dr Mary Sheppard: “Sudden cardiac death has a devastating impact on families – coming ‘out of the blue’ with no warning and often no explanation. However, the service at our new CRY Laboratories will enable us to play a small but vital part in helping people come to terms with their loss by providing the much sought after answers regarding the actual cause of death.

“Once families have access to such information, the correct follow-up screening can take place which could confirm whether any other members are living with the same, hereditary conditions. Only then, can medical professionals take steps to ensure that similar, unnecessary deaths are prevented in the future.”

Click here for more information about the launch of
the CRY Centre for Cardiac Pathology

Dr Mary Sheppard