Division of Cardiovascular Sciences

With particular focus on understanding how these diseases impact diverse populations, research within the Division has changed people’s lifestyle choices, communities’ health policies, and physicians’ practices, including how they diagnose, assess, and treat cardiovascular disease for every patient. Research supporting these discoveries takes many forms, including:

• Epidemiological cohort studies that investigate genetic, behavioral, sociocultural, systemic, and environmental influences on disease risk and outcomes, as well as monitor risk factors and disease patterns in specific populations. One example is the Jackson Heart Study, which seeks to identify contributors to the increased incidence and mortality rate of cardiovascular disease among African Americans.
• Clinical trial networks to enhance participant recruitment, data collection, and analysis. and to encourage collaboration among investigators with unique expertise. For example, the Pediatric Heart Network (PHN) conducts research to improve outcomes and quality of life for children with congenital and pediatric heart diseases. The PHN has nine main clinical sites and has enrolled more than 3,500 patients.
• Basic and translational science investigations to understand and ensure that vital new devices and treatments advance to clinical testing, such as the Pumps for Kids, Infants, and Neonates (PumpKIN) initiative supporting the development of needed novel child-sized mechanical circulatory support devices.
• Studies of prevention and treatment strategies that inform improvements to clinical care and public health, including trials such as the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), which has demonstrated the benefit of setting lower blood pressure targets for reducing heart attack, heart failure, and stroke, as well as death from these conditions.

The Division leads many partnerships and collaborations that reach throughout the NHLBI, across the entire National Institutes of Health, and to other agencies, all with the shared goal of advancing the understanding of every aspect of cardiovascular diseases. Trans-agency partners include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and many others. The NHLBI also participates in international cardiovascular research collaborations, such as the Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum. This coalition of major international cardiovascular research funders aims to advance cardiovascular health by catalyzing, supporting, and promoting transformational international research efforts in heart, stroke, and circulatory diseases.

The Division relies on comprehensive community input to develop research priorities and target support for relevant science that will advance cardiovascular health in the United States. Learn more about the NHLBI’s Strategic Vision, including objectives and research priorities.