NHLBI should incorporate more patient input in the institute’s decision-making process and consider more collaboration with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
The cause of obesity is clear and simple: eating > needs, or in > out; that is, energy intake is greater than energy use. For the majority of the public, there is little genetic component to cause obesity or over weight. Rather, personal determination is the single thing that is needed to control body weight. Just control the mouth. Simple and easy, and free. Even for the most favorite food, the amount to eat should be ...more »
How does Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome affect the functioning of the heart and circulatory system?
Once heart failure has developed, can diet and exercise measures work to reverse it?
Well-designed clinical trials are needed to answer this question.
Genetic or biologic makers that predict outcomes in pulmonary fibrosis are needed.
Validated animal models of lung fibrosis that better resemble the human condition are needed to speed up the drug development process.
An international patient registry is needed to help promote understanding of the natural history of pulmonary fibrosis and real-world impacts of interventions.
Critical Challenge
What is the most effective approach to asymptomatic carotid artery disease to reduce the burden of stroke?
How to develop novel methods for predicting and monitoring atherosclerosis progression and vulnerable plaque including biomarkers and imaging?
How can research on in vitro and in vivo biomarker predictors of clinical response in lung disease be encouraged?
The GOLD guidelines recommend regular physical activity in all patients with stable COPD. How we operationalize this is completely unclear. We know pulmonary rehab works but few patients are referred and fewer participate. We also know physical activity, not just exercise, directly measured in the field is associated with COPD-specific outcomes such as acute exacerbations, hospitalizations and death. How do we bring ...more »
Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome is characterized by a bleeding disorder as well as pulmonary fibrosis. Invasive procedures such as a lung biopsy are contraindicated due to bleeding and bronchoscopy is not without risk. Finding a biomarker would reduce the necessity for more invasive data collection while improving outcomes.
Controversies exist regarding the treatment of the thoracic aorta in those with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), in particular: 1) conflicting views regarding criteria for elective surgery, particularly aneurysm size 2) extent of thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.
Clinical disease manifestations in individuals and families where bicuspid aortic valve is present may best be described as a spectrum, with considerable variability in presentation. Patients and families would benefit from an individualized approach, which does include familial medical history, but couples that information with current best understanding of BAV, considering both variations and risks.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex, progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs. The gold standard for measuring pressures in the pulmonary arteries is a right heart catheterization, where a special catheter is guided through the right side of the heart and into the pulmonary artery, the main vessel carrying blood to the lungs. This measurement is essential, as it allows physicians and ...more »
By 2025, the world we will either meet or fall short of the goal to reduce the burden of chronic diseases globally by 25% by 2025. Most of this disease burden occurs in developing countries. Multi-disciplinary, multi-national partnerships to combat chronic heart, lung and blood disorders are needed for the most resolute, effective and sustainable responses. We need a program of research that addresses the highly variable ...more »