Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Message from the Chair

Maria Kontaridis, PhD

Welcome to the Basic Cardiovascular Council of the American Heart Association. I am truly honored to serve as your BCVS Council Chair, to work with each of you to promote the mission and vision of the American Heart Association (AHA). This year, 2024, is indeed a special and celebratory year, commemorating 100 years of cardiovascular research, advocacy, and education. For a century, the AHA has been committed to reducing the incidence of heart disease and stroke, to fostering a healthier society, and to supporting medical professionals in their quest for knowledge. The opportunity to be part of a community that not only advances medical science but also impacts patient lives has been an important call to action for many of us.

The Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Council (BCVS) is one of the largest councils at the AHA and one of the largest organizations in cardiovascular sciences globally, with ~5,000 members from more than 45 countries. Its mission is to promote basic science research and education, with the goal of understanding the mechanisms of regulation of heart function. BCVS also represents a microcosm of the AHA’s broader mission, embodying the values of integrity, scientific rigor, and collaboration. Our collective identity is shaped by the shared vision to transform cardiovascular research through innovation and discovery. In this regard, BCVS integrates molecular/cellular and physiological approaches to addressing problems in functional genomics, cell signaling, myocardial biology, circulatory physiology, pathophysiology, and peripheral vascular disease.

I hope and encourage you to consider volunteering and participating in one of the many programs and activities that BCVS has to offer our members. Contact us for more information on how you can get involved today! Together, we can foster groundbreaking research and support novel therapeutic approaches that can accelerate scientific discoveries to the clinic. Together we can expand our educational programs, tailoring them to diverse career stages, ensuring access to the latest cardiovascular research, and providing training in the most cutting-edge technologies. Together, we can increase advocacy to influence policy and raise public awareness about heart disease and stroke. Together, we can build stronger communities and prioritize initiatives that address social determinants of health and reduce disparities in cardiovascular outcomes. Through leadership and collaboration, together, we can each make meaningful and transformative contributions that will benefit both our research and our community.

With thanks,

Maria Kontaridis, PhD
Chair, Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences