National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (2023)

• Mission
• Important events
• legislative history
• Director
• Program

Mission

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is a world leader in research, training, and education to advance the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases and to improve the health of all people. people so that they can live longer and better. Satisfaction with life.

The NHLBI promotes fundamental discoveries about the causes of disease, enables the translation of fundamental discoveries into clinical practice, encourages the training and mentoring of emerging scientists and physicians, and communicates research advances to the public. Builds and supports a robust collaborative research infrastructure in partnership with public and private organizations, including academic institutions, industry, and other government agencies. The Institute works with patients, families, health professionals, researchers, professional groups, patient advocacy groups, community organizations, and the media to promote the application of research and leverage resources to address public health needs. The NHLBI also works with international organizations to help reduce the burden of heart, lung, and blood disease around the world.

Major events in NHLBI history

June 16, 1948- President Harry S. Truman signed the National Heart Act creating and establishing the National Heart Institute (NHI) in the Public Health Service (PHS) and the National Heart Advisory Board.

August 1, 1948– Surgeon General Leonard A. Scheele addressed the NHI with General Circular no. 36, Organization Order No. 14, as one of the National Institutes of Health, to assume responsibility for heart research, education, and management, as set forth in the National Heart Law. Internal cardiovascular disease and gerontology research projects conducted at other NIH sites were transferred to the NHI. The NHI Director was appointed to direct and coordinate the entire cardiac program at PHS.

September 8, 1948— The National Heart Advisory Council held its first meeting. Dr. Paul Dudley White served as Executive Director of the Board.

January 1949— Cooperative research units have been established at the University of California, the University of Minnesota, Tulane University, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Until the completion of the NHI's own research organization and the availability of additional research facilities, the units were jointly funded by the NIH and the institutions.

July 1, 1949— The NHI internal research program was established.

The Heart Disease Epidemiology Study in Framingham, Massachusetts, was transferred from the Office of State Services, PHS to the NHI.

July 6, 1953— The Clinical Center admitted its first patient for heart disease research.

July 1, 1957— The first members of the NHI Scientific Advisory Board were sworn in. The body was created in 1956 "to provide advice on general policy issues, particularly from a longer-term perspective, as it relates to the intramural research program."

February 19, 1959- The American Heart Association and the NHI presented to the nation a report on "A Decade of Progress Against Cardiovascular Disease."

October 16, 1968— A Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Dr. Marshall W. Nirenberg, Director of the NHI Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, for discovering the key to cracking the genetic code. Dr. Nirenberg was the first NIH Nobel laureate and the first federal employee to receive a Nobel prize.

October 26, 1968— The NHI received the National Hemophilia Foundation Research and Scientific Achievement Award for its "medical leadership...tremendous encouragement and support for research activities directly related to the study and treatment of hemophilia."

November 10, 1969— The NHI was renamed the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), reflecting the expansion of functions.

February 18, 1971— In his health message to Congress, President Richard M. Nixon identified sickle cell disease as a high-priority disease and called for increased federal spending. Subsequently, the Assistant Secretary for Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) for Health and Scientific Affairs named NIH and NHLI as the lead agencies responsible for coordinating a national sickle cell disease program.

June 12, 1972- HEW Secretary Elliot Richardson has approved a national high blood pressure information and education program. The Secretary appointed the Hypertension Information and Education Committee, chaired by the NIH Director, and the Interagency Task Force, chaired by the NHLI Director, to implement the national effort.

July 1972— The NHLI launched the National High Blood Pressure Education Program (NHBPEP).

July 14, 1972- Secretary Richardson approved a reorganization of the NHLI and elevated the institute to the status of an office within the NIH.

June 25, 1976— The NHLI was renamed the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), reflecting an expansion of blood-related activities within the institute.

November 1979— Results from the Hypertension Screening and Monitoring Program, a clinical study initiated by the NHLBI in 1971, provided evidence that systematic and aggressive treatment of hypertension saves lives.

October 1981— The NHLBI Beta-Blocker Heart Attack trial showed benefits for those in the study who received propranolol compared to the control group.

October 1983- Results from the NHLBI Coronary Artery Surgery Study showed that mildly symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease can safely delay coronary artery bypass surgery until symptoms worsen.

January 1984— The NHLBI Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial conclusively concluded that lowering total blood cholesterol reduces the risk of coronary artery disease in men at increased risk of high cholesterol. Every 1% reduction in cholesterol levels has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack by 2%.

April 1985-- The NHLBI Phase I study of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction found that the novel thrombolytic recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was approximately twice as effective as streptokinase in opening thrombosed coronary arteries.

October 1985— NHLBI-sponsored researchers Michael S. Brown and Joseph L. Goldstein received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries on the regulation of cholesterol metabolism.

November 1985— The NHLBI initiated the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP).

June 1986- Results from the NHLBI Prophylactic Penicillin Study demonstrated the efficacy of prophylactic penicillin in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with pneumococcal infections in children with sickle cell disease.

March 1989— The NHLBI launched the National Asthma Education Program. The program was later renamed the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP).

September 1990- NHLBI and National Cancer Institute scientists have initiated the first study of gene therapy in a human patient, a 4-year-old girl with an inherited immune dysfunction.

January 1991— The NHLBI has developed an obesity education initiative to educate the public and health professionals about obesity as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and its relationship to other risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol high.

June 1991— The NHLBI launched the National Heart Attack Alert Program.

July 1991— The NHLBI Program for Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly showed that low-dose drug therapy for isolated systolic hypertension significantly reduced stroke and heart attack in people older than 60 years.

august 1991- The NHLBI left ventricular dysfunction studies demonstrated that the use of enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, in patients with symptomatic heart failure resulted in a significant reduction in mortality and hospitalizations for congestive heart failure.

January 1995- Results from the NHLBI multicenter study of hydroxyurea showed that hydroxyurea reduced the number of painful episodes by 50% in severely affected adults with sickle cell disease. This is the first effective treatment for adult patients with sickle cell anemia.

September 1995- Results from the NHLBI Bypass-Angioplasty-Revascularization study showed that patients on diabetes medications who had blockages in 2 or more coronary arteries and were treated with coronary artery bypass surgery had a significantly higher 5-year mortality rate lower than patients treated with angioplasty.

May 1996— Researchers from the Framingham Heart Study concluded that early and more aggressive treatment of high blood pressure is crucial to preventing congestive heart failure.

The Treatment of Mild Hypertension study showed that lifestyle approaches such as weight loss, a healthy eating plan, and physical activity are essential for lowering blood lipids in patients receiving treatment for hypertension in stage I

September 1996- Results from the NHLBI Asthma Clinical Research Network showed that inhaling a beta-agonist at regular times is safe for people with asthma, but provides no greater benefit than using the medication only when asthma symptoms appear.

November 1996- Two studies, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study and the Trial of Nonpharmacological Intervention in the Elders, showed that lifestyle changes, such as medication, helped some older patients.

January 1997— Results from the Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Adolescents program have shown that atherosclerosis develops before the age of 20 and that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and smoking contribute to the progression of arteriosclerosis and affects women and men equally, regardless of race

May 1997— Results from the antiarrhythmic versus implantable defibrillator clinical trial demonstrated that implantable cardiac defibrillators are superior to antiarrhythmic drug therapy in improving overall survival in patients with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.

October 1, 1997— The NHLBI will be responsible for the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a study begun in 1991 to treat chronic diseases in women.

March 1999— A large clinical study on the use of mechanical ventilators in ICU patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome showed that there were approximately 25% fewer deaths in patients receiving small breaths than large breaths from a mechanical ventilator.

September 2000— NHLBI-supported researchers have identified a gene for primary pulmonary hypertension.

January 2001- Results from the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) sodium study showed that reducing sodium in the diet significantly lowers blood pressure in people with high blood pressure; the greatest effect was seen when sodium reduction was combined with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat, which has already been shown to lower blood pressure (ie, the DASH diet).

April 2001— The NHLBI has published international guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

July 2001— For the first time, a patient received an autonomous artificial heart.

September 2001— The NHLBI, along with the American Heart Association and other partners, launched a national campaign, "Act Early for Heart Attack Signs," to raise awareness about heart attack symptoms and the need for a heart attack. fast answer.

July 2002- The NHLBI stopped the estrogen plus progestogen component of the WHI study early due to increased risk of breast cancer and lack of overall benefit. The multicenter study also found an increase in coronary artery disease, stroke and pulmonary embolism in participants taking estrogen plus progesterone compared with women taking placebo pills. In 2004, the GHI component evaluating monohormonal estrogen therapy was also stopped early because the long-term risks of the drugs outweighed the long-term benefits.

December 2002- Results from the NHLBI Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Rhythm Control Study suggested that a strategy that includes rate control rather than rhythm control may be the treatment of choice for patients with atrial fibrillation. The rate control strategy implies the use of less expensive drugs and fewer hospital admissions.

Results from the NHLBI Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attacks (ALLHAT) Trial, the largest hypertension clinical trial ever conducted, showed that traditional diuretics are at least as good as newer drugs (blockers of diuretics). calcium channels and ACE inhibitors) to treat high blood pressure. and to prevent some forms of heart disease. These results build on results from ALLHAT 2000, when investigators reported that an alpha-adrenergic blocker was less effective than a diuretic in reducing the risk of some forms of CVD.

January 2003— A study has shown that MRIs can detect heart attacks faster and more accurately than conventional methods in patients presenting to an emergency room with chest pain.

February 2003— The NHLBI Prevention of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism (PREVENT) trial was discontinued because treatment with low-dose warfarin to prevent recurrence of bleeding disorders, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism benefited patients.

May 2003— The NHLBI National Emphysema Treatment Trial found that lung volume reduction surgery benefits emphysema patients with certain clinical features. The results help determine Medicare coverage policy for the surgery.

July 2003— NHLBI and Gen-Probe Corporation developed a test to detect West Nile virus in donated blood.

March 2004— Preliminary results from the NHLBI Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure study showed that an implantable cardiac defibrillator may reduce the risk of death from abnormal heart rhythms in patients with heart failure.

august 2004- O NHBPEP Working Group on Arterial Hypertension in Children and Adolescents publicouThe Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension in Children and Adolescents.

An NHLBI-funded study has shown that nucleic acid amplification tests for the HIV-1 and hepatitis C viruses further secure the nation's blood supply.

October 2004— Researchers participating in the NHLBI Asthma Clinical Research Network have shown that genetic differences affect how adult patients with mild asthma respond to daily doses of inhaled albuterol (a medication used to relieve asthma symptoms). asthma) over time.

November 2004- Results from the NHLBI Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition Event Prevention Study showed that many patients with coronary artery disease receiving next-generation therapy do not receive the added cardiovascular protection of ACE inhibitors.

December 2004— The NHLBI Stroke Prevention Trial II showed that children with sickle cell disease who receive transfusions to prevent a new stroke are at high risk of stroke when transfusions are stopped. STOP II was initiated after an earlier study showed that regular red blood cell transfusions reduced the rate of stroke by 90% in high-risk children with sickle cell disease.

January 2005— The NHLBI has published new guidelines for managing asthma during pregnancy.

February 2005- NHLBI-supported scientists have identified 2 common gene mutations in people of African descent that are linked to a 40% reduction in LDL cholesterol.

February 2006Results from the WHI Calcium and Vitamin D study showed that calcium and vitamin D supplementation in healthy postmenopausal women produced a small improvement in the preservation of bone mass and the prevention of hip fractures in certain groups, including older women, other types . However, it does not prevent fractures or colon cancer.

May 2006- Findings from the Childhood Asthma Research and Education Network show that daily treatment with inhaled corticosteroids can reduce breathing problems in preschool-age children at high risk of asthma, but does not prevent them from developing persistent asthma.

The Pulmonary Embolism Prospective Diagnostic Study II found that the ability to diagnose pulmonary embolism is improved when a commonly used chest imaging test to detect life-threatening blood clots in the lungs is supplemented by an extension of the scan to the legs, where the blood coagulates. arise normally - or through a standard clinical evaluation.

June 2006— The SHOCK (Should We Emergency Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock) study showed that treating patients with myocardial infarction and a life-threatening complication called cardiogenic shock with emergency angioplasty or bypass surgery significantly improves their long-term survival . Better short-term survival was reported in 1999.

July 2006- NHLBI scientists discovered that a hormone called brain natriuretic peptide, or BNP, which can be detected in a simple blood test, can identify patients with sickle cell disease who have developed a life-threatening complication called pulmonary hypertension. The hormone is also a predictor of death in adult sickle cell patients.

Results from 2 randomized clinical trials have shown that inhaled nitric oxide administered in the first weeks of life helps prevent chronic lung disease in some low birth weight preterm infants. Also, when given within 48 hours of birth, it seems to protect some premature babies from brain damage.

September 2006— The NHLBI launched a peripheral arterial disease (PAOD) awareness and education campaign titledStay tuned... Follow the steps to learn more about the P.A.D.

January 2007— The NHLBI created the Learn More, Breathe Better campaign to raise awareness about COPD among primary care physicians and the public.view photo.

august 2007— NAEPP issued themExpert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma—full report 2007, an update of the latest scientific evidence and clinical practice recommendations for the management of asthma.

October 2007- NHLBI-supported researchers Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies have received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for developing a gene-targeted technique that allows scientists to create mice genetically engineered to develop human diseases.

December 2007— The NHLBI announced a new strategic plan to guide its next decade of research, training and education.

January 2008- Results from the ALLHAT study showed that diuretics offer greater protection against cardiovascular disease in people with high blood pressure, part of the metabolic syndrome, and are at least as effective in lowering blood pressure as newer and more expensive drugs.

February 2008— The NHLBI halted a treatment arm of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) clinical trial in adults with type 2 diabetes and at high risk of heart attack and stroke after a review of available data showed that participants they had a strategy to reduce blood. glucose below current recommendations to near normal levels had a higher risk of death compared with those who received the standard of care strategy.

The NHLBI published the first US guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of von Willebrand syndrome, the most common inherited bleeding disorder.

March 2008— The WHI follow-up study confirmed that the long-term health risks of combination hormone therapy outweigh the benefits for postmenopausal women. The researchers reported that approximately 3 years after the women stopped taking combination hormone therapy, many of the health effects of the hormones, such as

April 2008— Results from the Stop Atherosclerosis in Native Diabetic (SANDS) study showed that aggressively lowering cholesterol and blood pressure below current target levels in adults with type 2 diabetes may help prevent and potentially reverse hardening of the arteries.

august 2008— The NHLBI launched an educational website, Children and Clinical Studies, featuring documentary videos, text, and graphics designed to give health professionals and the public a better understanding of research involving children.

December 2008— The NHLBI expanded its open-access genetic and clinical dataset to include information collected from three NHLBI-funded asthma research networks: CAMP, CARE, and ACRN.

The researchers identified a gene that directly affects the production of a form of hemoglobin that is critical in altering the severity of SCD and thalassemia.

March 2009- Results from the STICH study showed that surgery to reshape the scarred left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber, often performed in conjunction with coronary artery bypass surgery, does not reduce deaths and hospitalizations in patients with heart failure nor did reducing quality of life improve compared with bypass alone.

June 2009- Results from the BARI 2D study in patients with diabetes and stable coronary artery disease showed that revascularization can be delayed in many patients receiving optimal medical therapy, but patients with extensive coronary artery disease do better with immediate bypass surgery than with pharmacological therapy alone.

The NHLBI has partnered with UnitedHealth Group's Chronic Disease Initiative to create a global network of research and training centers to build institutional and community capacity to prevent and control chronic diseases around the world.

August 2009.Results from the NHLBI Sleep Heart Health Study showed that moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of death in middle-aged adults, particularly men.

October 2009— The Department of Cardiovascular Sciences was created by merging two previously existing departments, the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases and the Department of Prevention and Population Sciences, to better align the administrative structure with the dynamic interaction that takes place between the fundamental sciences , clinical and demographic.

December 2009—NHLBI fundedScientists using a modified adult stem cell transplant regimen have reversed SCD in 9 out of 10 severely affected adults.

May 2010— The NHLBI created the National Asthma Control Initiative to improve asthma control in patients by aligning asthma treatment with evidence-based recommendations from theExpert Panel Report 3 Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthmaand the attached document,Policy Implementation Dashboard Reports Partners put policies into action.

October 2010- Follow-up results from the NHLBI-WHI study of hormone therapy in postmenopausal women showed that the estrogen plus progesterone group had almost twice the rate of death from breast cancer than the placebo group 5 years after stopping, in addition of a higher incidence of breast cancer from the study drug.

April 2011- Results from the NHLBI STICH study showed that adding heart bypass surgery to drug therapy in selected patients with chronic heart failure reduced the combination of heart-related deaths and hospitalizations compared with drug therapy alone.

May 2011- Results from the NHLBI Phase III clinical trial of hydroxyurea in children (Baby HUG) showed that hydroxyurea appears to be safe for the treatment of SCD in children aged 8 to 19 months, reducing episodes of pain and improving blood counts main.

august 2011- Results from the NHLBI COPD Clinical Research Network showed that the addition of a co-agent antibiotic to the usual daily regimen for COPD reduced the incidence of acute exacerbations and improved the quality of life of patients.

October 2011— Research, supported in part by the NHLBI, has shown that silencing the gene that makes the BCL11A protein can reactivate fetal hemoglobin production in adult mice bred with SCD. The discovery presented a new target for future therapies for people with SCD.

October 17, 2011— The NHLBI created the National Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Program, a public-private partnership to improve control of cardiovascular risk factors.

October 2011A rigorous clinical trial of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis therapy conducted by the NHLBI Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Research Network found that a regimen of three commonly used drugs (prednisone, azathioprine, and N-acetylcysteine) may actually be harmful. Evaluation of the combination therapy was stopped in early October 2011 when interim results showed that patients receiving the combination fared worse than those receiving placebo.

November 2011— The National Center for Sleep Disorders Research released the NIH 2011 Sleep Disorders Research Plan, which outlines research opportunities to pursue over the next 3-5 years to advance new approaches to prevent and treat sleep disorders and sleep deprivation.

December 2011— The NHLBI was launchedIntegrated Guidelines for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk in Children and Adolescents: The Expert Panel Report.

February 2012— A detailed examination of the coding and non-coding regions of selected DNA sequences revealed rare variants of genes that play a role in asthma susceptibility in people of different origins, particularly African-Americans and Europeans. The results may be useful in identifying people at risk of developing asthma.

March 2012- An NHLBI comparative efficacy study shows that older patients with stable CAD who undergo bypass surgery have better long-term survival rates than those who undergo a non-surgical procedure known as percutaneous coronary intervention to improve blood flow to the heart muscle.

April 5, 2012-Dr. Gary Gibbons was named director of the NHLBI. He succeeded Dr. Isabel Ombligo.

June 18, 2012— The NHLBI launched the National Blood Disorders Program, a public-private partnership to improve the management of sickle cell disease

July 2012— Results from the NHLBI study on the use of CT scans to rule out myocardial infarction have shown that by including CT scans in standard screening procedures, hospitals in an emergency room and in patients with symptoms suggestive of coronary syndrome can detect many pain patients can get home faster without compromising their safety.

An early-stage study at the NIH Clinical Center showed that eltrombopag, a drug that stimulates the production of platelets in the bone marrow and therefore improves blood clotting, can increase blood cell levels in some people with severe aplastic anemia who do not benefit from standard therapies. Eltrombopag was approved by the FDA in August 2016 for patients with severe aplastic anemia who have not responded well to immunosuppressive therapy.

August 2012— Research based on work from the Framingham Heart Study has shown that people with elevated levels of galectin-3, a marker of cardiac fibrosis, have an increased risk of heart failure and mortality.

June 6, 2013— Using data from the Framingham Heart Study, the researchers found that a polymorphism in the MUC5B gene is associated with interstitial lung disease, a wide range of diseases characterized by progressive lung scarring and decreased lung function.

Julio 2013— NHLBI-funded Duke University scientists have successfully created human heart tissue in vitro. The ability to engineer heart muscle brings scientists closer to the development of cell-based cardiac therapies and drug screening for patients with heart disease.

Julio 2013- NHLBI-funded researchers have effectively reversed pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in a mouse model using inhaled gene therapy to deliver a gene for an enzyme called SERCA2a. As a result, SERCA2a levels increased and lung function was restored, suggesting a possible therapy for PAH, a progressive and life-threatening disease that affects approximately 150,000 people in the United States each year.

August of 2013- New NHLBI-funded research found that higher plasma levels of the biomarker tumorigenicity suppressor 2 (ST2) are associated with treatment resistance for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). ) and are associated with death four times more likely within 6 months. Developing diagnostics to predict the onset of GVHD, as well as resistance to steroid therapy for the disease, has the potential to significantly impact the early detection and management of GVHD, leading to improved HSCT outcome. .

October 2013- NHLBI-supported researchers analyzed long-term data from two clinical trials in children with sickle cell disease. In the first study, researchers examining data from the BABY HUG study found that giving hydroxyurea therapy to infants and young children with sickle cell disease reduced hospitalizations and medical costs. In the second study, the researchers compared deaths from ischemic stroke (a complication of sickle cell disease) in black children with white children over a 20-year period between 1988 and 2007. The researchers believe that the 1998 publication of the STOP study found that this being the case has shown the efficacy of long-term blood transfusions for the primary prevention of stroke, has led to an increase in blood transfusions in patients with sickle cell disease, thus reducing the number of black people suffering from ischemic stroke.

November 12, 2013— As part of a new collaborative partnership model to develop new clinical guidelines for cardiovascular disease, the NHLBI has provided conclusive and rigorous reviews to the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and other professional societies. The new partnership model resulted in the rapid publication of four key guidelines on lifestyle, risk assessment, cholesterol, and overweight and obesity.

January 23, 2014— The NHLBI has established the Center for Translation and Implementation Science Research (CTRIS) to serve as a strategic focus for "T4" translation and implementation science research for the NHLBI and in collaboration with other agencies and organizations addressing inequities in translation science and implementation. National and global health to address T4 research is conducted after clinical trials have determined how individual patients benefit from specific interventions and/or treatments. Research is addressing questions about how and in what settings these treatments should be used, and how to ensure that they are used.

Timeline of NHLBI legislation

June 16, 1948— The National Heart Act (Public Law 80-655) authorized the NHI. The purpose of the Act was “to improve the health of the people of the United States through the conduct of research, experiments, and demonstrations concerning the cause, prevention, and method of diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the heart and circulatory system; support and encourage such research and other activities by public and private bodies and promote the coordination of all such research and activities and the useful application of their results; provide training on topics related to heart disease, including refresher courses for physicians; and develop and assist states and others in adopting the most effective methods of preventing, diagnosing, and treating heart disease."

December 30, 1963- House Joint Resolution 848 (P.L. 88-254) authorized and requested the President to issue an annual proclamation designating February as American Heart Month and required state and territory governors to issue similar proclamations.

May 16, 1972— The National Sickle Cell Disease Control Act (P.L. 92-294) established a national program for the diagnosis, control, treatment, and research of sickle cell disease. The law made no mention of the NHLI, but it was particularly relevant because the NHLI was designed to coordinate the National Sickle Cell Disease Program.

September 19, 1972- The National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Act of 1972 (PL 92-423) expanded the Institute's authority to promote a national attack on diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and blood. The law provided for the expansion, intensification, and coordination of the institute's activities in accordance with a comprehensive and specific National Program for Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Blood Diseases, to be planned by the Director and the Advisory Council.

He also called for establishing prevention and control programs; Development of 15 new centers for basic and clinical research, education, demonstration, and prevention programs for heart, vascular, and blood diseases; and establishment of 15 such centers for chronic lung diseases.

June 25, 1976— Title I of the Health Services and Research Amendments of 1976 (P.L. 94-278) changed the name of the NHLI to the NHLBI to fuel the national attack on heart, blood vessel, lung, and disease and to conduct research on the use of blood and blood products and the management of blood resources. The NHLBI Director and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Board continue to plan for the national program under P.L. 92-423 provisions with some improvements.

August 1, 1977— The Biomedical Research Extension Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-83) reauthorized the NHLBI, continuing to focus on the national program and related prevention and outreach activities.

December 17, 1980— The Health Programs Extension Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-538) reauthorized the NHLBI with a continued emphasis on both the national program and related prevention programs.

January 4, 1983— The Orphan Drug Act (P.L. 97-414) amended the Public Health Services Act to mandate the development and support of not less than 10 comprehensive sickle cell centers.

November 20, 1985— The Health Research Extension Act (PL 99-158) reauthorized the NHLBI, provided for the establishment of education and information dissemination programs, and provided for an assistant director of prevention.

20.09, miNovember 4, 1988— The National Registry of Bone Marrow Donors is created (P.L. 100-436, P.L. 100-607). With the enactment of these authorization and ownership measures, the NHLBI was charged with developing an implementation plan for the voluntary registry of bone marrow. Subsequently, responsibility for the registry was assigned to the Health Resources and Services Administration.

June 10, 1993— The NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (PL 103-43) established a National Center for Sleep Disorders Research within the NHLBI.

October 31, 1998— Section 104 of the Women's Health Research and Prevention Amendments (P.L.105-340) directed the Director of the NHLBI to expand and intensify the Institute's research and related activities related to heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases cardiovascular disease in women and collaborate with other NIH institutes.

October the 17th,2000— The Children's Health Act (PL 106-310) directed the Director of the NHLBI, through the National Asthma Prevention and Education Program Coordinating Committee, to develop a federal asthma response plan and recommended ways to strengthen coordination of the asthma. activities related to federal funding.

March 23, 2010 -The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) authorized the Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to expand and coordinate research on the epidemiology of congenital heart disease.

Biographical Sketch of NHLBI Director Gary H. Gibbons, M.D.

Gary H. Gibbons, M.D., is director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he oversees the NIH's third-largest institute with an annual budget of more than $3 billion. and 917 federal servants.

The NHLBI is a world leader in research, training, and education programs that advance the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases and improve the health of all people so they can live longer, fuller lives.

Dr. Gibbons' research program is recognized for its scientific advancement related to minority cardiovascular health. His lab is currently focused on discovering new lineage-specific mediators of vascular disease. Prior to being appointed director of the NHLBI, Dr. Gibbons served on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC) from 2009 to 2012. He was also a member of the NHLBI's Board of Extramural Experts (BEE), a NHLBAC task force.

Originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Gibbons received his bachelor's degree from Princeton andi graduated with high honorsfrom Harvard Medical School. Dr. Gibbons completed his residency and fellowship in cardiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He was a faculty member at Stanford University from 1990 to 1996 and at Harvard Medical School from 1996 to 1999. Dr. Gibbons joined the Morehouse School of Medicine in 1999, where he served as the founding director of the Institute. of Cardiovascular Research and Chairman of the Department of Physiology and Professor of Physiology and Medicine until 2012, when he was appointed director of the NHLBI.

During his career, Dr. Gibbons has received numerous honors, including election to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences; Selected as a recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Minority Teacher Development Award; Selected as a Pew Foundation Biomedical Fellow; and recognized as an Established Investigator by the American Heart Association (AHA).

NHLBI Directors

NHLBI-Al programa

The NHLBI is organized into the Extramural Research Program, the Internal Research Program, and the Office of the Director.

Director's office

The Office of the Director (OD) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides overall strategic planning, policy advice, program development and evaluation, and operational and administrative coordination for the institute. Offices within the OD provide critical management and administrative support to the Institute and are responsible for the transparent and accountable administration of the NHLBI budget.

The OD is the focal point for relationships with the NIH Director, as well as with other components of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), other federal agencies, Congress, professional bodies, voluntary health organizations, and other public groups. . . The OD advises and guides key NHLBI leaders on the principles, practices, laws, regulations, and policies of federal employment equality, affirmative action, civil rights, and minority programs.

The OD collects, develops, and disseminates information on heart, lung, and blood diseases and transfusion medicine with a focus on disease prevention, and conducts and promotes educational programs for scientists and physicians. He leads the way in the transmission and evaluation of information to the scientific community and the lay public, and establishes the institute's internal policies for administrative programs and operations and oversees their implementation.

Administrative Office

The NHLBI's Office of Management (OM) provides oversight and guidance over the business operations and administrative administration of the institution. Areas under the OM's mandate include: budget formulation and execution; human resources management; development and monitoring of administrative policies and procedures; Compliance with the Law on Freedom of Information and Data Protection; space management; and travel and procurement services for members of the Office of the Director.

Information Technologies and Applications Center (ITAC)

The Information Technology and Applications Center (ITAC) directs and implements a wide range of clinical, research, and business informatics programs in support of the NHLBI's mission of biomedical research. Articulates the NHLBI's information technology (IT) strategic plan, forecasts future needs, establishes and implements NHLBI IT policies and procedures. ITAC defines and executes IT management methodologies that span strategic planning, complex organizational structures, technical project management, and business process modeling and reengineering.

Ministry of Science and Technology (OST)

The NHLBI Office of Science and Technology (OST) supports the Director of the Institute and the departments and offices of the Institute. OST (1) identifies, supports, or conducts short- and long-term reviews of key existing and emerging policy and programmatic issues to assess their impact in the areas of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders (HLBS); (2) directs, coordinates, and facilitates liaison activities between NHLBI staff and the US Congress, state and local governments, academic, professional, and provider organizations, other interest groups, and other government entities ; (3) prepares and conducts briefings on science planning and policy issues for the director of the institute; (4) develops, facilitates, and coordinates the development of reports in response to requests from the NIH, DHHS, other federal agencies, Congress, and the White House; and (6) directs, coordinates, and executes the strategic science planning and assessment activities of the NHLBI.

Communication Secretariat (OC)

The NHLBI Office of Communications provides a comprehensive, integrated, and technology-enabled communications capability for all matters related to communicating the Institute's vision, strategic plan, and mission-oriented program activities and products to internal audiences and external; initiates, develops and implements a dynamic and proactive communication program appropriate to the target audience; engages multiple groups nationally and internationally and draws on communication resources from local, national and international sources, including specific target group stakeholders; evaluates the effectiveness of communication activities; and coordinates and integrates the Public Relations activities and the Health Campaigns and Consumer Care units.

Public Affairs Department

The Public Affairs Department implements and maintains two-way communications between the NHLBI and the general public, as well as internal and external audiences; maintains the websites for the Director, the NHLBI Newsroom, and the US Recovery and Reinvestment Strategic Plan and Act; acts as event coordinator; oversees media relations; and promotes the public image of the NHLBI.

Division of Health Campaigns and Consumer Services

The Department of Health Campaigns and Consumer Services leverages the latest research on health and consumer communications, behavioral and social marketing in planning communication strategies; develops consumer messaging and public awareness campaigns on COPD, women, and heart disease and sickle cell disease; provides consulting services for printing, graphic design and layout of NHLBI publications and provides support for exhibitions, product marketing and NHLBI print media, as well as publishing assistance for NHLBI print and web-based publications to ensure that distributions of the NHLBI Institute meet the licensing requirements of the NIH and the HHS met.

Non-university research program

The NHLBI's extramural research programs are managed by three scientific units: the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, the Division of Lung Diseases, and the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, and a service unit, the Division of External Research Activities. In addition, the Research Results Application department focuses on the translation, dissemination and exploitation of research results. Research grants, program project grants, expert center grants, collaborative agreements, research contracts, research career development awards, and institutional and individual national research service awards are used to support research, research training and career development.

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences (DCVS)

DCVS leads and supports fundamental, clinical, population-based, and healthcare research on the causes, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

The department sponsors research in disease areas such as atherothrombosis, myocardial infarction and heart failure, hypertension, stroke, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, congenital heart defects in adults and children, cardiovascular complications of diabetes and obesity, and other cardiovascular disorders. . The development of technology for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases is also supported. Research also includes a number of well-known epidemiological cohort studies that describe disease patterns and risk factors in populations; clinical trials of interventions to prevent disease and prevent or modify risk factors; Studies on genetic, behavioral, sociocultural, health systems, and environmental influences on disease risks and outcomes; and studies on the application of prevention and treatment strategies to determine how clinical care and public health can be improved. The department supports education and training in these areas of research. In addition to the Office of the Director, the Department is operationally organized into 3 Offices and 3 Programs that supervise 8 branches.

• Office of Scientific Training and Professional Development
• Biostatistics Research Office
• Clinical Research Office
• Program in fundamental and initial translational research
  • Department of Vascular Biology and Hypertension
  • Branch of Advanced Technologies and Surgery
• Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Research Program
  • Branched heart failure and arrhythmias
  • Department of Cardiac Development and Structural Diseases
  • Department of Arteriosclerosis and Coronary Artery Diseases
• Prevention and Population Sciences Program
• Department of Epidemiology
• Department of Clinical Applications and Prevention
• Women's Health Initiative Division

Office of Scientific Training and Professional Development

The Office of Research Training and Professional Development supports cardiovascular research training and professional development programs and provides opportunities for individuals at all levels of education, from high school students to academic faculty, including programs for individuals from diverse populations. The programs provide opportunities for early-stage investigators, under the guidance of experienced scientists, to conduct basic, preclinical, or clinical cardiovascular research, leading emerging and promising scientific and technological advances from discovery to preclinical and clinical trials. The office also works with the scientific community and professional organizations to ensure training programs meet the current and future needs of cardiovascular research professionals. Office-supported programs include:

• Institutional and individual research training programs and fellowships to train promising cardiovascular scientists at the predoctoral, postdoctoral, junior faculty, and established research levels.
• Diversity supplements for ongoing research grants to support young researchers of diverse backgrounds, from high school to junior faculty level.
• The Pathway to Independence program, which allows the recipient to bridge the gap between a professional development award and a research award.
• Professional development programs designed specifically for clinical research or minority researchers and institutions.

Research Office in Biostatistics (OBR)

The Office of Biostatistics Research (OBR) provides statistical expertise to members of all NHLBI departments and performs a variety of roles in planning, designing, conducting, and analyzing NHLBI-sponsored studies. The OBR has primary responsibility for providing objective, statistically sound, and clinically relevant problem solving. When a problem arises for which techniques are not yet available, OBR is expected to provide a new and valid statistical solution. OBR handles efficient study design and data monitoring during ongoing studies. All professional staff members have an interest in statistical methodology relevant to clinical research studies. OBR's methodological interests relate to survival analyses, longitudinal data analysis, and efficient study design, including adaptive design and monitoring of ongoing clinical trials to determine efficacy and safety.

Office of Clinical Research (OCR)

As the clinical research central office for extracurricular affairs, OCR(1) coordinates regulatory activities related to clinical research, both internally within the extramural divisions of the NHLBI and externally with the NIH Institutes and other government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration. Medicines. (FDA) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); (2) acts as a consultant to non-university medical and academic staff, principal investigators, and research staff for the prevention and reporting of adverse events; (3) provides education and training for non-university personnel who manage clinical research; and (4) maintain core databases and guidelines and evaluate existing programs to standardize clinical trial data collection.

Program in fundamental and initial translational research

The program supports and directs early-stage, preclinical, and fundamental translational studies in vascular biology and hypertension, cardiovascular surgery, and the development of advanced technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The portfolio includes an integrated program of basic and clinical research investigating the biological bases of vascular disease and hypertension, as well as their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Research in cardiovascular surgery includes basic research and preclinical research on surgical approaches, as well as clinical trials to establish evidence-based surgical therapies. Diagnostic development includes research into biosensors, imaging technologies, and the application of "omics" methods. Therapeutic development includes drug and nucleic acid delivery technologies, regenerative and restorative medicine, gene therapy, and device development. The program also supports training and professional development in these research areas. The program is divided into two branches: the branch of Vascular Biology and Hypertension and the branch of Advanced Technologies and Surgery.

Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Research Program

The program supports and guides basic, translational, and clinical research on the development, maturation, and function of the heart at all stages of life. The research portfolio covers a broad scientific spectrum, including cardiac development and maturation, myocyte structure and function, myocardial energy and metabolism, cardiac electrophysiology, coronary artery structure and function, heart failure, valvular heart disease, exercise physiology, nutrition and the heart, heart defects. from birth to adulthood, intrauterine environment and cardiovascular risks, cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease. A key function of the program is to provide collaborative leadership for systematic oversight of clinical research across the department, including clinical research information technology and flexible but standard operating procedures. The program also supports training and professional development in these research areas. The program is organized into three main components: the Department of Heart Failure and Arrhythmias, the Department of Cardiac Development and Structural Diseases, and the Department of Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Diseases.

Prevention and Population Sciences Program

The Population Sciences and Prevention program supports and provides leadership for population-based and clinical research on the causes, prevention, and clinical care of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and blood disorders and sleep disorders. Research encompasses a wide range of epidemiological studies to describe disease patterns and risk factors in populations and to identify disease risk factors; clinical trials of disease prevention interventions; Studies of genetic, behavioral, sociocultural, and environmental influences on disease risks and outcomes; and studies on the application of prevention and treatment strategies to determine how clinical care and public health can be improved. The program also supports training and professional development in these research areas. The program is organized into three main components: the Division of Epidemiology, the Division of Clinical Applications and Prevention, and the Division of Women's Health Initiatives.

Department of Lung Diseases (DLD)

DLD plans and manages a coordinated research program on the causes and progression of lung diseases and sleep disorders, including their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It supports basic research, clinical trials, national lung centers, technological development, and the application of research results. Activities will focus on understanding the structure and function of the respiratory system, advancing fundamental knowledge of the mechanisms associated with lung disease, and applying new insights to evolving treatment strategies for patients. DLD also coordinates the sleep research activities of the NIH, other federal agencies, and outside organizations through the National Center for Research on Sleep Disorders.

The department is organized into 2 branches and 1 center:

• Department of Biology and Respiratory Diseases
• Department of Biology and Pulmonary Diseases
• National Center for Research on Sleep Disorders

ODepartment of Biology and Respiratory Diseasessupports research and research education on asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and the role of the airways in health and disease. Basic research focuses on elucidating the etiology and pathophysiology of diseases. Clinical trials are focused on improving asthma control and reducing disparities in asthma health, improving COPD treatment and control, and developing genetic, drug, and non-drug treatments (eg, gene transfer) for cystic fibrosis.

O Department of Biology and Pulmonary Diseasessupports research, education, and training programs in lung cell and vascular biology; Developmental Biology and Pediatric Lung Diseases; acute lung injury and intensive care; and interstitial lung disease and pulmonary immunology, including pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and the pulmonary manifestations of HIV/AIDS and associated infections with a focus on active and latent tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant TB. Basic research focuses on lung development and cell biology, including stem cell biology and cell-based therapies, as well as the mechanisms of disease development and pathogenesis. Clinical trials are focused on evaluating innovative therapies for acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary fibrosis, neonatal lung disease, pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary hypertension.

ONational Center for Research on Sleep Disordersplans, directs and supports basic, clinical and applied research, health education, training and preventive research in the areas of sleep, chronobiology and sleep disorders. Monitors developments in its program areas; assesses national research needs on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sleep disorders and somnolence; and coordinates sleep research activities throughout the federal government and with professional, voluntary, and private organizations.

The NHLBI sleep research program seeks to understand the molecular, genetic, and physiological regulation of sleep and the relationship between sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease. It also supports efforts to understand the relationships between sleep restriction and sleep disturbances in the metabolic syndrome, including obesity, hypertension and stroke, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and vascular inflammation.

Blood Disorders and Breakdown Resources (DBDR)

The DBDR plans and conducts research and research training on the causes and prevention of diseases and disorders of the blood. Areas of interest span a wide variety of research, from stem cell biology to the medical treatment of blood disorders, with a focus on nonmalignant and premalignant processes. DBDR recently assumed a leadership role in the development of cell-based therapies, combining expertise in transfusion medicine and stem cell technology with research in the repair and regeneration of human tissues and biological systems. The department also has a major responsibility to improve the adequacy and safety of the country's blood supply.
The department is divided into 3 branches:

• Department of Molecular, Cellular and Blood Sciences
• Translational Blood Science and Resources Branch
• Department of Blood Epidemiology and Clinical Therapeutics

Department of Molecular, Cellular and Blood Sciencesprovides supervision, support, and encouragement for basic fundamental research and early laboratory translation of the biology of blood, hematopoietic elements, and the interface between each of the latter and other cellular and organ systems. Industry responsibilities include: 1) overseeing, supporting, and stimulating discovery science focused on explaining the physiology and pathophysiology of blood, bone marrow, and blood vessels; 2) Supervise, support and encourage systems biology approaches to understand the critical role of blood, bone marrow and vascular endothelium in animal and human organs and organisms; 3) Supervise, support, and encourage the use of basic genetic, proteomic, and metabolomic tools to understand hematologic physiology and pathophysiology; 4) management and/or liaison with NHLBI/NIH resources related to basic research in non-neoplastic hematology; and 5) Promote scientific communication between the Division, the NHLBI, the NIH, and partner federal agencies.

The Department of Blood Sciences and Translational Resourcesprovides oversight, support, and encouragement for translational research across the spectrum of blood science, as well as the necessary resources to support heart, lung, blood, and sleep research. The branch's responsibilities include: 1) overseeing, supporting, and promoting post-discovery science, preclinical research, and early-stage clinical studies and trials; 2) monitor, support and encourage SBIR/STTR initiatives in the blood sciences; 3) administer and/or liaise with NHLBI resources related to translational research; 4) training of blood science personnel; and 5) scientific liaison for translation research in the division, NHLBI, NIH, and associated federal agencies.

Department of Blood Epidemiology and Clinical Therapeuticsis responsible for overseeing, supporting, and stimulating epidemiological, clinical, and implementation research across the full spectrum of blood science. The branch's responsibilities include: 1) supervising, supporting, and encouraging health services, epidemiological, and observational clinical research; 2) supervise, support and initiate therapeutic and interventional clinical trials; 3) Gain and maintain experience in the design and management of trials and clinical studies on behalf of the department; 4) supervise, support and stimulate the implementation of science and research; 5) training of blood science personnel; and 6) scientific liaison with epidemiologic, clinical, and implementation research in the division, NHLBI, NIH, and associated federal agencies.

Department of Extracurricular Research Activities (DERA)

DERA provides a range of services to the institute. For example, he represents the institute on general NIH committees on after-school program policies and oversees compliance with those policies within the NHLBI. Also provides grant and contract administration services for Institute program departments and provides initial scientific review of some research grant applications (for example, DERA coordinates Institute committee administration activities and Advisory Board meetings). National Heart, Lung and Blood).

The Center for Translation Research and Implementation Studies (CTRIS)

The Center for Translational Research and Implementation Sciences (1) designs, promotes, and supports an integrated and coordinated portfolio of observational and interventional implementation research to understand and test the multi-step processes and factors necessary for successful integration of interventions translation based. in real-world public health and clinical settings, which can include families, communities, workplaces, and schools and focus on health inequalities both nationally and globally; (2) identify emerging knowledge about the later stages of translation research, particularly the "T4" phase in real-world settings, and make it available to implementation and dissemination professionals to enable rapid and sustained deployment of interventions effective; (3) directs NHLBI efforts toward rigorous and systematic reviews of the evidence and subsequent NHLBI involvement in the collaborative model to develop clinical practice guidelines; (4) directs efforts toward training and professional development of staff in translational "T4" research and health disparities related to heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders; (5) provides a one-stop-shop for advice and guidance on issues related to minority health, health disparities, and minority participation in research; (6) directs or coordinates the NHLBI's representation to other governments, other federal departments and agencies, international organizations, and the private sector on global health issues; and (7) provides data analysis and portfolio analysis to assess and inform future directions of implementation research programs.

The center is divided into 3 branches:

• translation research department
• The Implementation Science Department
• The Division of Health Inequalities and Global Health

translation research department: (1) supports and encourages research in the final stages of research translation, particularly in the "T4" phase, leading to generalizable knowledge of cardiac, pulmonary, blood, and sleep disorders in real-world settings ; (2) Supports an integrated and coordinated portfolio of research activities, including observational and interventional implementation research, to understand and test the multi-step processes and critical factors for the successful integration of evidence-based interventions in clinical and community settings. development. which includes families, neighborhoods, communities, construction sites and schools; (3) examines initiatives that address research issues at the intersection of biomedical and socioenvironmental fields to include biobehavioral, environmental, and health-related approaches to addressing the occurrence and consequences of heart, lung, blood, and heart disorders sleep and related to reducing health disparities; (4) facilitates interdisciplinary research collaborations and serves as a focal point for the NHLBI to maximize the impact of NHLBI research findings at the population level through translational "T4" research; (5) identifies knowledge gaps in translation research to inform the development of future collaborative research opportunities with other CTRIS affiliates and NHLBI divisions; and (6) promotes collaboration among researchers, research networks, professional associations, scientific academies, and major research funders at home and abroad.

The Implementation Science Department:(1) directs NHLBI efforts toward rigorous and systematic reviews of the evidence and subsequent NHLBI involvement in the collaborative model to develop clinical practice guidelines; (2) identifies emerging knowledge about the final stages of research translation, particularly the "T4" stage in real-world settings, and makes it readily accessible to practitioners in implementation and dissemination, so that it can be rapidly translated into applications to support the dissemination and dissemination Implementation of knowledge to improve the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders; (3) provides academic expertise and technical support to improve NHLBI Fellows' implementation and outreach plans and practices; (4) identifies knowledge gaps in the translation of research, both in the early stages of research, ie. H. "T1-T3" as well as particularly "T4" phase in real-world settings to inform future research opportunities; and (5) Facilitate knowledge sharing opportunities through knowledge networking and other strategies for researchers and users of translation research, particularly in the "T4" phase in real-world settings, to discuss issues of applicability, relevance, and utility of the research for future research needs. and opportunities

The Division of Health Inequalities and Global Health: (1) serves as the NHLBI's focal point for advice and guidance on research related to health inequalities at home and abroad, including identification of research gaps and needs and opportunities to address them; (2) leads the strategic development of "T4" translation research and implementation science on a global scale; (3) represents the NHLBI before other governments, other Federal departments and agencies, other NIH Institutes and Centers, international organizations, and the private sector on global health issues; (4) develops strategic positions related to the determinants of health inequalities and global health and facilitates the participation of public health services in support of these positions and in collaboration with other health and development agencies and organizations with an international focus; and (5) provides leadership and coordination for bilateral programs with selected countries in support of presidential and vice-presidential initiatives within the executive branch.

internal investigation program

Department of Intramural Investigations (DIR)

DIR conducts excellence in investigator-initiated basic, translational, clinical and population research that leads to seminal discoveries that positively impact human knowledge and health, and leverages the distinguished research environment to train the next generation of scientific leaders. .
The DIR is organized into 6 centers and 5 branches:

• Center for Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Pulmonary and cardiovascular branches
• Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Human Genomics
• Center for Cellular Biology and Physiology
• Molecular Medicine Center
• Center for Genetics and Developmental Biology
• Department of Hematology
• Immunology Center
• Department of Population Studies
• to rama de la
• Systems Biology Center

Center for Biochemistry and Biophysicsconducts research that brings chemical and physical approaches to the study of biological problems. Lead researchers at the center focus on topics ranging from DNA transcription to cellular degeneration. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in these various processes, researchers are developing tools and techniques to solve, quantify, model, manipulate, and simulate biological mechanisms at the molecular and cellular level. The main research focus of the center is the development of theoretical and experimental models of biomolecular structure and the use of these models to elucidate the connection between structure, function and regulation of biologically active molecules and processes.

The cardiovascular and pulmonary branchesinvestigates diseases affecting the heart, blood vessels, and lungs. Specific projects aim to answer clinically relevant questions using methods ranging from studies at the molecular level to intervention projects, therapy and clinical diagnosis. The department places great importance on creating an environment in which scientists and medical professionals can work collaboratively on specific disease issues, using the most appropriate approaches across the spectrum from bench to bedside.

Division of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Human Genomics conducts genetic and genomic research in human populations on diseases affecting the heart, lungs, and blood. Specific projects aim to discover the genetic and genomic determinants of heart, lung and blood diseases using state-of-the-art DNA and RNA sequencing and other -omics technologies in blood, tissues and cells from human populations. The goal of the department is to understand the biological mechanisms underlying genomic discoveries and to identify clinical applications. The branch emphasizes a multidisciplinary environment of scientists and clinical scientists working together to translate genomic insights into prediction, prevention, and treatment.

The researchers in Center for Cellular Biology and Physiologythey are dedicated to understanding the inner workings of cells and their interactions with the external environment. The research lines of this center focus on the study of the molecular machines that confer the structure, movement, division and trafficking of cellular charges, in particular the mechanisms that regulate cell morphology and protein transport. The goal of this research is to understand how these machines and processes affect human health and disease, as abnormal changes in a single cell can eventually affect the entire body.

Molecular Medicine Center:Molecular medicine is based on the principle that many diseases involve a small number of molecular mechanisms that, if well understood, can be efficiently addressed with appropriate therapy. Researchers at the Center for Molecular Medicine apply this principle to diseases ranging from atherosclerosis to neurodegeneration, conducting biomedical research aimed at defining the basic molecular mechanisms of human disease and a variety of animal and cellular models of human disease, including induced human specific. stem cells from pluripotent patients (iPS cells) and conduct mechanism-based clinical trials with the aim of gaining insight into underlying disease mechanisms or testing proof-of-principle therapeutic approaches.

Center for Genetics and Developmental Biology (GDBC)is dedicated to studying the role of genes and gene networks in a variety of biological processes related to the development of the organism and the maintenance of homeostasis. Furthermore, there is a large focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which these cellular regulatory components are disrupted to cause disease and how they can be manipulated to design new gene-based and other therapies. GDBC researchers use a variety of approaches to answer these questions, including model genetic systems such as Drosophila, fluorescent imaging, and genomic technologies.

Department of Hematology:Blood is made up of not only red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body, but also white blood cells and platelets, all of which come from the same stem cell. Investigators in the Department of Hematology study normal and abnormal hematopoiesis in the clinic, in patients participating in observational and therapeutic research protocols, and in basic cellular, molecular, and immunologic laboratory research. The department focuses on diseases resulting from bone marrow failure and viral infections of hematopoietic cells, as well as immune-mediated syndromes such as graft-versus-host disease and autoimmune diseases. Treatment approaches being studied include immune therapies, bone marrow transplants, and advanced cell and gene therapy approaches.

Immunology Centerexplores the molecular basis of immunological processes that are applicable to a wide range of diseases, including a variety of hereditary immunodeficiencies, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and allergic diseases. Researchers at the center explore research areas such as biology, signaling, gene regulation, and epigenetics related to immune cell activation and function, and the mechanisms by which drugs and other agents induce allergic/autoimmune responses. The aim of the center is to elucidate the basic mechanisms and promote the translation of these findings for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in humans.

Department of Population Studiesformulates a global view of the natural history and future trends associated with heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders, and draws on thousands of participants from the Framingham Heart Study, as well as other population cohorts. The department takes a comprehensive approach to understanding these diseases, combining classical epidemiology and longitudinal studies with cutting-edge genetic and "omics" technologies (proteomics and metabolomics, as well as transcriptomics). Through this combined approach, the department attempts to identify molecular signatures of disease phenotypes in the population setting.

sickle branchwill focus on the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, specifically the mechanisms of acute pain, biologic and genetic markers of disease severity, including the use of new genomic technologies to identify genetic modifiers and modifier drug discovery and development of the illness.

The objective of Systems Biology Centeris to build integrated models of complex biological processes and test them across the entire network of cellular and physiological interaction. Using high-throughput detection tools from the fields of genomics, proteomics, and imaging, along with powerful computational and modeling tools to assimilate the acquired data, researchers at the center are able to analyze gene and protein expression, enzymatic activity or other biological processes on a spatial scale and temporal scale research context. Researchers at the Center for Systems Biology are interested in multiple systems, such as heart disease, oxidative stress, cell differentiation and memory, cell energy and metabolism, and kidney function.