{
  "abstract": "Introduction The National Heart and Lung Institute annual ‘Science in Medicine School Team Prize’ was initiated in 2021 to introduce UK Sixth Form students to health research. It aims to inspire the next generation of researchers, challenging them to engage with real-world medical challenges beyond the national curriculum. It promotes multidisciplinary teamwork and forward-thinking solutions that realistically consider affordability, availability, social acceptability and the need for effective communication.Methods Each school could enter 1 team (≤6 members) into each of five competitions. The Cardiovascular competition required teams to submit an e-poster outlining the scientific foundations for a novel general or specific dietary plan for actively promoting cardiovascular health, including strategies for evaluation. Entries were anonymised and assessed by three judges from a 24-member panel of varying academic/clinical seniority, using these criteria: (i) the health issue; (ii) novel innovation; (iii) feasibility (affordability, availability, acceptability); (iv) multidisciplinary teamwork; (v) communication. 10 teams then progressed to an online Finals event, at which they presented to eleven judges, comprising academics, clinicians, medical students, a BHF representative, and a patient representative.Results In 2025, 198 schools entered the competition overall, with geographic distribution broadly across England, two schools each in Scotland and Wales and one in Northern Ireland ( figure 1). 135 (68%) schools were state-maintained [40% comprehensive; 28% selective] and 32% were independent. Analysis of short-listed entries revealed no evidence favouring independent schools, and they were significantly less likely to win a prize than state-maintained schools (15 versus 2, p <0.05, χ2). The Cardiovascular competition had entries from 88 schools. The majority (n=41) were on dietary/eating behavioural interventions for general cardiovascular health, and more specified entries were on arterial disease (39), valve disease (2), congenital heart disease prevention (2), cardiomyopathy (1), systemic hypertension (1), pulmonary hypertension (1) and heart failure (1). The prize-winners are presented in table 1. Of the 25 teachers who completed a questionnaire, 19 (76%) ‘strongly agreed’ the competition was an exceptional opportunity for their students, while the remaining 6 (24%) teachers ‘agreed’.Conclusions Judging from universally positive feedback from students and teachers, the competition is a valuable means for engaging sixth formers with health research; helping shape their university applications to study medicine or other scientific/technical disciplines important for improving cardiovascular health; strengthening skills in communicating to a lay audience, time management and teamwork. University and Clinical Staff also benefit from the greater insight into the perspectives of sixth formers on cardiovascular health and the medical future.Abstract 315 Table 1Abstract 315 Figure 1",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Shruti Rajendra"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Cecelia Johansson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Dorian Haskard"
    }
  ],
  "title": "315 Towards a cardioprotective diet – the 2025 science in medicine school team cardiovascular competition",
  "uid": "6d184f6e-d8e3-5900-846c-ec3138a93f7c"
}