Founded in 1900 by the citizens of Birmingham, the University of Birmingham is a world leading higher education institution, both nationally and internationally, University of Birmingham offers high-standard teaching and research in most major disciplines.

The University ranked 62nd in the QS world university (2013) and 101st in Shanghai Jiao Tong University World Rankings (2013). The University of Birmingham has also extensive experience of EU collaboration and partnerships and in-depth expertise of Framework Programme matters including management, reporting and auditing. The University has been involved in over 310 FP7 projects at Feb 2014 (including projects in negotiation) of which 134 collaborative projects (24 as coordinator) and 41 Initial training networks (19 as coordinator). The University of Birmingham is ranked 24th for project participation amongst Universities in FP7 (39th overall) according to the latest Commission’s FP7 monitoring report.

The University of Birmingham has academic staff of distinction; many recognised as international leaders in their fields and attracts students of high ability. The University is also one of the leading research-based universities in the United Kingdom; the breadth of research expertise is a distinctive characteristics of the University. The last UK Research Assessment Exercise in 2008 confirmed that 90% of the University’s research has global reach, meaning it is recognised internationally in terms of its originality, significance and rigour. The University also ranked 12th in the UK overall (out of 159 institutions) in the Research Fortnight University Power Ranking, based on the quality and quantity of UK university’s research output

Embedded into a clinical network of teaching NHS trust hospitals, and specifically based on research fed by SWBH NHS trust, University of Birmingham has helped to shape the current management of AF patients as evidenced by the involvement of senior clinical academics in recent AF guidelines (e.g. ESC, AHA/ACCF/HRS; NICE), and by research support for research into AF to senior academics at the university. University of Birmingham will open a new Institute of Translational Medicine in 2015 that will support personalised approaches to health care and the early clinical development of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

Biometric and epidemiological expertise at University of Birmingham has particular strengths in evaluation of diagnostic tests, patient-reported outcomes, and cardiovascular epidemiology, all supporting the goals of CATCH ME.