NHLBI Director's Corner RSS Feed

NHLBI adopts new collaborative partnership model for clinical practice guidelines development

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:02:15 EDT

One of the core elements of the NHLBI mission is to prevent and treat heart, lung, and blood diseases through public education. Since the mid-1970s, the NHLBI's health education portfolio has included collaborative initiatives with researchers and practitioners to develop clinical practice guidelines focused on the management of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Behind the bench... with Dr. Richard Lifton, Yale University

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:00:46 EDT

The complicated nature of congenital heart disease historically has meant that we know little about the fundamental causes. Now, thanks to the team of scientists in the NHLBI-funded Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium, researchers are beginning to gain new knowledge about potential causes of this condition. Dr. Richard Lifton from Yale University led a study recently published in Nature that reported on the findings from the first large-scale sequencing analysis of congenital heart disease.

Status of the NHLBI payline

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:31:00 EDT

As you probably know by now, we have recently received greater clarity from the Congress and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget, and the NHLBI funding and operating guidelines for the current fiscal year are now posted.

Behind the bench... with Dr. Stanley Hazen, Cleveland Clinic and Lerner Research Institute

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:15:32 EDT

Recently, a provocative series of NHLBI-funded research studies have provided some important new insights into the potential link between red meat consumption and the "clogging of the arteries" that characterizes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. According to Dr. Stanley Hazen and his colleagues, the main culprit may be tied to our gut—specifically, gut bacteria's metabolism of L-carnitine, a substance found in red meat and energy drinks. Dr. Hazen spoke with me in a candid, in-depth conversation about his recent contributions to science and what it may mean for the health of the nation and the future research opportunities that lie ahead.

American Heart Month 2013: Reflections on improving women's cardiovascular health

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:32:45 EST

At the NHLBI, we share a passion with many of you for reducing and preventing heart disease among women. It's part of our mission to apply new knowledge toward improving public health outcomes in all communities. American Heart Month offers an opportunity to appreciate the advancements we have made together, as well as take a step back and think about how we can do even better.

NHLBI researcher named 2012 AAAS Fellow

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:33:39 EST

Keji Zhao, Ph.D., director of the NHLBI Systems Biology Center, has been named a 2012 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This honor is bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers in recognition of "meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications."

A Thanksgiving message from the NHLBI

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:18:07 EST

In this season of giving thanks, the NHLBI would like to express its gratitude and appreciation to all of you in the NHLBI community who contribute to discoveries that enhance human health.

Notes from the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2012

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:43:05 EST

This year's American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions, held Nov. 3-7 in Los Angeles, offered a wealth of new and provocative research findings and provided a welcome opportunity for those of us in the NHLBI scientific community to meet with our colleagues in cardiovascular research and clinical practice from around the world who are working to increase knowledge that can ultimately improve health for all.

Status of NHLBI-sponsored guideline reports on cardiovascular risk factors in adults

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:41:06 EST

Five years ago, the Institute undertook an ambitious project to develop new reports on cardiovascular risk assessment, lifestyle modification, and obesity as well as update its guidelines on high cholesterol ("ATP") and high blood pressure ("JNC"). Despite the diligent efforts of all our collaborators in this new initiative, completion of the projects has taken longer than anticipated.

Researchers from around the world convene for global health symposium

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:48:15 EDT

Researchers from around the world gathered at a scientific symposium in Bethesda, Md., on Oct. 14, 2012, to report on their work as part of the NHLBI and UnitedHealth Group Collaborating Centers of Excellence program.

Publication about ideal U.S. employers features NHLBI investigator

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:29:15 EDT

As a testament to the NIH's success in fostering career excellence, a survey of nearly 60,000 students conducted by Universum Global ranked the NIH as the #1 Ideal Employer in the United States for the natural sciences in 2012. We are pleased to note that the survey report features our own Justin Taraska, Ph.D., who joined the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research (DIR) in 2010 as a principal investigator in the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Imaging.

"Father of bone marrow transplantation," Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, dies

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:43:50 EDT

The NHLBI joins the rest of the scientific community in mourning the loss of a true pioneer, E. Donnall Thomas, M.D. Dr. Thomas, a hematologist who earned a Nobel Prize in 1990 for establishing bone marrow transplantation as a successful treatment for leukemia and other blood conditions, died Oct. 20 at the age of 92.

NHLBI grantees to receive Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:08:45 EDT

Congratulations to NHLBI grantees Robert J. Lefkowitz, M.D., of Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Duke University Medical Center, and Brian K. Kobilka, M.D., of Stanford University School of Medicine, on being selected to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012 for their studies of G-protein-coupled receptors, which enable cells to sense and respond to outside signals such as adrenaline surges.

NHLBI grantee Shinya Yamanaka selected to receive Nobel Prize

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:13:21 EDT

Congratulations to NHLBI grantee Shinya Yamanaka, M.D., Ph.D., who has been selected to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 together with Sir John B. Gurdon, Ph.D., for the discovery that mature, specialized cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent cells that are capable of developing into any of the cell types of the body.

The Heart Truth® celebrates a decade of progress

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:46:33 EDT

Ten years ago, we launched The Heart Truth^® campaign to address a serious misconception among Americans that heart disease only affects men. Since then, with the help of many successful public-private partnerships, the campaign has not only raised awareness about women's risk of heart disease, but also motivated women and their loved ones to make and sustain heart-healthy behavior changes.

NHLBI's Dr. Neal Young receives 2012 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal ("Sammie")

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:20:28 EDT

Congratulations to Neal Young, M.D., chief of the NHLBI's Hematology Branch, for receiving the 2012 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal ("Sammie") in the Science and Environment category. Nine Sammies are awarded each year to "outstanding federal workers who are making high-impact contributions critical to the health, safety and well-being of Americans."

Video: Dr. Gibbons delivers NHLBI Town Hall presentation

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:41:48 EDT

Last week, NHLBI staff gathered together as a community in a Town Hall meeting that served as a brief introduction about who I am and why I am delighted to take the leadership helm of this great organization. You can watch a videocast of the meeting below.

Expert Panel Report on the Management of Sickle Cell Disease is available for public comment until August 31

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:58:01 EST

In response to requests from persons living with sickle cell disease, the NHLBI convened a panel of external experts to develop evidence-based guidelines for clinical management of sickle cell disease. We now invite patients, health care providers, and others to review and comment on a draft of the panel's report.

Dr. Gary H. Gibbons joins the NHLBI as Institute director

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 12:23:04 EDT

I am honored and pleased to officially join the NHLBI today as director. It is truly humbling to lead an institute with such a respected legacy of excellence in public service. I look forward to both the challenges and the opportunities ahead of us as I take on this new leadership role within the NHLBI community.

NHLBI Office of Research Training and Minority Health celebrates 10th anniversary

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 10:52:17 EDT

The NHLBI Office of Research Training and Minority Health (ORTMH) celebrated its tenth anniversary in July. To mark the occasion, ORTMH held a seminar on July 24 featuring keynote speaker Dr. Fatimah Jackson, director of the Institute of African American Research and professor of biological anthropology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.