Cardiology expert Professor Sir Nilesh Samani has been presented with a City of Leicester Civic Award in honour of his outstanding work.
He received a special medal from Deputy Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Bhupen Dave, earlier this week (February 17) in front of councillors, family and dignitaries.
The award recognises and honours individuals for their far reaching and impactful work on people’s lives in Leicester and beyond and is particularly poignant because his nomination came from longstanding Councillor and former Lord Mayor, Manjula Sood who sadly passed away on Boxing Day.
Professor Samani said: “I am truly honoured to receive this award. To be given such recognition from the city which has been home for me and my family for over 50 years and in which I have dedicated my working life, is extremely humbling.
“To have been nominated by Councillor Sood makes it even more special because of her own trailblazing achievements within Leicester.
“My clinical work and research has in many ways attempted to be just that – pioneering – for the benefit of others and I hope it has made and will continue to make a difference to people in Leicester and beyond for many more years to come.
“I am proud of my achievements to advance medical practice alongside hugely talented and dedicated colleagues who work hard every day to help save lives.”
Professor Samani was born in Kenya and moved to the UK with his family in 1971, settling in Leicester. He was part of the first intake of medical students in the new Leicester Medical School in 1975 and graduated in 1981 with distinction.
He went on to become a consultant cardiologist at Glenfield Hospital in 1993, helping to establish its reputation as a major cardiac centre providing high quality care to the people of Leicestershire and beyond.
Following this, he was appointed Professor of Cardiology at the University of Leicester in 1997, before taking up the prestigious post of British Heart Foundation Chair in Cardiology in 2003.
Professor Samani has provided personal care to thousands of patients over the last 32 years and trained countless numbers of doctors.
He served as Head of Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester between 2003-2016 and Director of the Leicester NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Cardiovascular Disease from 2009-2016. In these roles, he helped to establish Leicester as a major internationally recognised centre for research into cardiovascular diseases.
Professor Samani’s own research has focused on understanding the genetic basis of common cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and high blood pressure (hypertension), identifying new opportunities for prevention and treatment. He has published over 650 research papers and is one of the most highly cited researchers in the world.
Between 2016-2023, Professor Samani served as Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation (BHF). The BHF is the main funder of research in heart and circulatory diseases in the UK (and one of the largest in the world), funding over £100 million of new research each year. It also acts as the champion and advocate for patients suffering with cardiovascular diseases. The Medical Director of the BHF oversees all its research funding and medical activities and plays a key national role in the fight against heart disease.
Professor Samani was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science by the University of Leicester in 2014 and an Honorary Doctorate of Medicine by the University of Edinburgh in 2025.
In addition, he has been received numerous awards including the NHS Platinum Clinical Excellence Award – the highest honour available in the NHS, the British Cardiovascular Society Mackenzie Medal, the European Society of Cardiology Gold Medal, and the Japan Vascular Disease Research Foundation Okamoto Award.
Professor Samani was awarded a Knighthood for Services to Medicine and Medical Research in the New Year’s Honours List 2015, becoming the first Asian to be knighted in the city. He was also appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire in 2008.
Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Bhupen Dave warmly congratulated Professor Samani calling him a “tremendous advocate for Leicester” for creating a “lasting and positive impact on the lives of so many people.”
City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby added: “The City of Leicester Award was introduced to honour and recognise trailblazers like Nilesh.”
Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leicester, said: “We are hugely proud of the many amazing achievements Professor Samani has made throughout his time here at the University and beyond. From taking his first steps into a long and successful medical career as a young student at Leicester Medical School to his Professorship and Doctorate award – he is a fantastic representation of everything we strive for – a Citizen of Change making huge differences to the world around him for the benefit of others. This award is truly deserved and I offer my warmest congratulations on behalf of the University and colleagues.”
Richard Mitchell, Chief Executive of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, added: “Professor Sir Nilesh Samani has dedicated his career to improving care for patients and strengthening services for our communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. His commitment to clinical excellence, research and education has helped shape cardiac services locally and nationally, and his impact can be felt through the thousands of patients he has supported and the many clinicians he has inspired.
“We are proud to see him recognised with this award. It reflects not only his exceptional achievements, but also the values we strive for across UHL – compassion, innovation and a deep sense of service to the people we provide care for every day.”