Professor Sian E. Harding is a renowned cardiac scientist and former Professor of Cardiac Pharmacology at Imperial College London, where she also led the Cardiovascular Division at the National Heart and Lung Institute. Her scientific work has focused on heart failure, and the new techniques of gene and cell therapy. In her previous book, The Exquisite Machine, Sian tried to refocus our view away from cardiac disease and celebrate the tireless perfection of the human heart.

A gifted communicator, she has appeared on What's Up Docs with Chris and Xand van Tulleken (October 2025) and has been featured in The Observer, The New Statesman, BBC Science Focus Magazine, and more.
Known for turning complex research into accessible narratives, she is a popular and engaging speaker at literary and scientific festivals, admired for bringing clarity and curiosity to the science of the heart.