Liverpool Hospital’s host cutting‑edge research trial for life‑threatening heart condition

A retired estate agent from St Helens has become the first patient to receive treatment as part of a clinical trial in Liverpool which is aiming to slow the progression of a potentially life-threatening disease which can lead to heart failure if left untreated.

Taking place at the NIHR (National Institution for Health Research) Liverpool Clinical Research Facility (CRF), which is based at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, the trial is investigating whether lowering lipoprotein(a), a particle in the blood that carries fats and cholesterol, can slow the progression of mild to moderate calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS).

CAVS is one of the most common types of aortic stenosis in adults, affecting mostly those over the age of 65. It is a progressive and life-threatening condition where calcium builds up on one of the heart’s main valves, making it stiff and narrow. This restricts blood flow and, if untreated, can lead to heart failure.

Kay Malekfar, 66, began her journey after discovering her father had a hereditary heart condition. Concerned about her own risk, she underwent tests which revealed she didn’t carry the same condition but did have a leaky heart valve.

Kay said:

“I’m so grateful the tests found my heart condition. I had no symptoms and have always led an active lifestyle, so without the specialist test I wouldn’t have known until it was too late.”

Kay was referred to specialists at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (LHCH), where expert teams carried out advanced diagnostic tests to confirm her condition and decide the best course of care.

A yoga and fitness enthusiast, Kay has regular check-ups at LHCH as part of her routine treatment plan to keep her heart healthy. When the research team told her about the new trial at the Royal, she didn’t hesitate.

Kay said:

“I wanted to take part because research is so important for finding new treatments. It also means you get more monitoring and an extra level of care from the research team that you wouldn’t usually get.”

Kay received her first dose of treatment in December 2025 and said the experience was simple:

“I didn’t feel a thing. I walk at least 10,000 steps a day and was able to carry on straight away.”

The trial is being delivered through a collaborative partnership between NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, working together to enable research and ensure patients across the region have access to early phase studies.

Dr Timothy Fairbairn, Cardiology Consultant at LHCH, said:

“CAVS is a progressive degenerative condition that currently has no medical treatment. Once the valve becomes severely narrowed the only option is to undergo major heart surgery.

“Our goal with this study is to explore whether lowering lipoprotein(a) can slow disease progression and reduce the need for major surgery in the future. This is an exciting step forward and we’re proud that patients in Liverpool are among the first in the UK to take part in research that could transform care for thousands of people.”

Catherine Lowe, Lead Research Nurse for the trial, said:

“It’s a privilege to support patients like Kay who are helping us drive forward research that could change the future of cardiac care. Our team is committed to ensuring every patient feels informed, supported and cared for throughout their research journey.”

Kay is keen on inspiring others to take part in research.

She said:

“It’s the best thing you can ever do, if you ever get the chance to be a part of research, take up the offer.”

To take part in the study you must be between 50 and 80 years of age with a diagnosis of mild to moderate CAVS. To see if you could be eligible to take part, or to find out about all our studies at LHCH, please email the research team at Research@lhch.nhs.uk. 

Find out more on the NHS website.

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