AN OXFORD University professor's scientific image has been shortlisted in a national photography competition.

Dr Nicoletta Surdo's 'Flower from the heart' came second in the British Heart Foundation's 'Reflections on research' contest.

The competition was designed to highlight the groundbreaking work of labs across the UK and entrants were tasked with producing an image that visually captured the aim of their research.

Dr Surdo, and her team are studying heart failure, where the heart is unable to pump hard enough to deliver enough blood around the body and for which there is currently no cure.

Her image shows the muscle fibres that form the walls of the chambers of a mouse heart. Titin (in green), acts as a molecular spring, while Beta-actinin (in red) helps to enable the heart muscle to contract helping the heart to beat.

Dr Surdo, a postdoctoral research scientist at Oxford’s department of physiology, anatomy and genetics, said: "When I took this picture I was inspired by the natural beauty of the simple building blocks in our heart."

Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the BHF, called the image 'stunning' and added: "Science relies increasingly on ever more sophisticated imaging techniques to help us to see the cellular and molecular processes that conspire to create disease.

"So whilst this competition is all about the picture, it’s the story behind each one that will save and transform lives."