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Adventures in cardiovascular research
1Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. ebraunwald@partners.org
Insights
This review covers 58 years of clinical cardiovascular research, detailing advancements in valvular heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and myocardial ischemia. It highlights technological evolution from pressure tracings to genetic technologies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Research
- Medical Technology
Background:
- The article reviews four decades of clinical cardiovascular research, focusing on valvular heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and myocardial ischemia.
- It traces the author's personal journey and contributions within these fields, starting from an introduction to cardiovascular hemodynamics in 1951.
Observation:
- The author details the progression of knowledge and technological innovation in cardiovascular research over 58 years.
- Key technological shifts include the transition from invasive pressure tracings to advanced genetic technologies for drug development.
Findings:
- Significant advancements have been made in understanding and treating valvular heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and myocardial ischemia.
- The evolution of research tools has dramatically enhanced the ability to investigate cardiovascular conditions and therapeutic interventions.
Implications:
- The review underscores the dynamic nature of clinical cardiovascular research and the impact of technological innovation.
- It offers insights into the rewards of a research career and provides a historical perspective on the field's development.
Abstract:
This article, derived from an invited Distinguished Scientist lecture presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in 2007, reviews 4 themes (adventures) in clinical cardiovascular research carried out over a period of 58 years. It begins with the author's introduction to cardiovascular hemodynamics during a medical school elective in 1951. The 4 adventures include valvular heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure (HF), and myocardial ischemia. In each of these adventures, the author describes briefly what was known when he entered each field, followed by the author's contribution to the field (the adventure), and ends with comments about the current status of the field. Of particular interest are the changes in the technologies used in clinical cardiovascular research over the past half century, commencing with pressure tracings in left heart chambers with the use of needle puncture in the operating room to genetic technologies designed to understand differences between drugs that inhibit platelet activation. The article ends with some general comments on conducting research and the rewards that can come with this activity.
