Wendy J Tomlin Hess Fund

Wendy’s donation will change lives, hearts will beat longer, discoveries will emerge faster, and the boundaries of science will continue to expand.

Wendy J Tomlin-Hess was born in Oadby, Leicester, and spent her career in the USA in the clinical data management field working for large pharmaceutical and Biotech companies, specialising primarily in oncology clinical trials and interfacing with the US Food and Drug Administration.

Wendy and Robert were married for 13 years, before he sadly passed away in 2024.

Wendy tells us that Robert invented the second-generation stent and balloon catheter in the US and conducted clinical trials on these devices, saving patients from enduring invasive open-heart surgery, also interfacing with the Food and Drug Administration.

Robert Hess’s passion for philanthropy began when in 1973 his son Christopher, a twin, passed away due to complications of a premature birth. The loss of Christopher was traumatic for the family; however, Robert and his first wife channeled their grief into research that would help to ensure other families would not have the heartbreaking outcome that they had experienced.

Wendy and Robert Tomlin-Hess

Why Wendy was inspired to donate

In late 2014, her brother Terry’s health deteriorated, and by early 2015 he was referred to Royal Papworth Hospital and placed on the heart transplant waiting list.

Terry was fortunate to be able to join the pioneering Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) programme. The programme funded by Royal Papworth Charity, enabled the first DCD heart transplant to be carried out in Europe. Unlike traditional transplants from donors declared dead by brain-stem criteria, this innovative technique used hearts from donors whose hearts had stopped.

In spring 2015, Terry became one of the third people in the world to receive a DCD heart transplant - a procedure that saved his life and marked a major milestone in cardiac care.

Ten years later, Terry celebrated his “new heart anniversary,” living proof of the programme’s impact. Today, DCD transplants account for 25% of adult heart transplants in the UK, with Royal Papworth performing 145 procedures, leading the nation and ranking among the highest globally.

Wendy and Terry

We are extremely grateful to Terry's heart donor and their family, who gave him a gift we could never repay - the gift of life. I am now very happy to be in a position where I can truly thank Royal Papworth with a donation that will help to save many, many more lives.

The Vision

Wendy’s generous gift will support three groundbreaking initiatives aimed at advancing transplantation science and improving patient care.

Each of these projects represents a vital step toward a future where more donated hearts can be used for transplantation, meaning more lives saved. This fund will help Royal Papworth Hospital continue to lead innovation in heart and lung care, ensuring that patients like Terry, and countless others, have the best chance at life.

The TEST Study – A new frontier in heart transplantation

Led by Dr Nicole Asemota, resident doctor in cardiothoracic surgery at Royal Papworth Hospital, the TEST Study seeks to revolutionize the way clinicians assess donor hearts. At present, nearly half of donated hearts risk being turned down - often because there is no consistently objective and reliable method to measure the extent of damage caused by ischaemic reperfusion injury.

The TEST Study aims to identify new, non-invasive biomarkers that can reveal whether a heart is suitable for transplantation.

Nicole says: “In the UK, there are around 300 - 400 people in need of a heart transplant, but typically only 150 - 200 heart transplants are performed each year. This research could lead to a 20% increase in heart transplants across the UK - and bring new life to patients waiting for a second chance.”

Working in partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute of Metabolic Science, the team - including Dr Richard Kay, Dr Albert Koulman, Dr Ben Jenkins and Dr Paulina Guevara Dominguez - is uniting biochemical expertise with clinical innovation.

The Wendy J. Tomlin-Hess DCD Accelerator Fund

While the TEST Study focuses on identifying viable hearts for transplantation, the Wendy J. Tomlin-Hess DCD Accelerator Fund seeks to redefine what is possible in the field of organ preservation.

Dr John Louca, supported by the fund and supervised by Professor Sanjay Sinha and Mr Stephen Large, is developing techniques to extend the current donor heart preservation time of six hours to six days.

Extending the preservation time from six hours to six days and hence providing ample time for transplantation and transport, will enable the global sharing of donor hearts that can be transplanted into recipients all over the world.

Long-term preservation also offers the opportunity to rehabilitate and repair marginal donor hearts - those previously considered borderline for transplantation - significantly increasing the number of viable organs. This will help transplant patients live a longer and better-quality life.

Dr John Louca says: “This work not only expands the donor pool but also strengthens the global potential of transplantation science.”

The Morgan

The TEST Study and The Wendy J Tomlin-Hess Accelerator Fund will both undertake their research on the Morgan device. The Morgan heart perfusion machine project was established for two reasons: to produce a cheaper heart perfusion machine to save the NHS valuable expenditure, and to serve the paediatric population for heart transplantation.

The studies being conducted on the Morgan machine will help to support the case for clinical use of the Morgan in transplantation practise for adults and children.

Supporting the Clinical Research Facility at The Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute (HLRI)

At the heart of Royal Papworth’s scientific excellence is its Clinical Research Facility (CRF) located in the HLRI, a state-of-the-art partnership with the University of Cambridge. Here, teams of clinicians and scientists work side by side to conduct early-phase cardiovascular and respiratory trials. With Wendy’s support, the CRF will be able to appoint a dedicated medical officer - a vital role in accelerating trial capacity and ensuring more patients gain access to life-changing therapies.

The investment in the CRF is an investment in the future - strengthening the hospital’s capacity to lead the next generation of medical breakthroughs.

Through the Wendy J. Tomlin-Hess Fund, lives will be changed, hearts will beat longer, discoveries will emerge faster, and the boundaries of science will continue to expand. It is a story of vision and compassion working hand in hand — of one person’s generosity inspiring a ripple effect of progress across a nation’s healthcare system.

The largest donation from an individual in Royal Papworth Charity's 30-year history.