Heart attack and dementia research celebrated in 2018 science image prize

Subarachnoid blood vessels that line the brain provide vital blood but also remove waste build ups that may accelerate dementia ( Matt MacGregor Sharp, University of Southampton, British Heart Foundation - Reflections of Research )

Cardiologists and dementia researchers spend their days trying to unpick the intricate workings of our bodies’ complex inner machinery.

But to actually peek in and capture a glimpse of these delicate – and messy – systems is a fine blend of art and science.

The British Heart Foundation launched its Reflections of Research prize to celebrate those scientists who can distil the complexity of their work into a single image.

Winners of the 2018 competition were announced on Friday and provide a window on teams working to understand how faults in the brain’s internal plumbing could accelerate dementia, or trying to map the birth of blood vessels in three-dimensions, to see how they recover after a heart attack.

Click through below to see some of the best entrants and learn more...