Cardiovascular Research: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death and significant burden on
healthcare systems worldwide. While interventional and preventative medicine has considerably
changed the face of clinical practice, at the molecular level, treatment has not altered in
recent decades and is still directed towards alleviating symptoms or mitigating the underlying
cause rather than regenerating damaged heart muscle. This is surprising, given the explosion of
research in this area in the 1970’s, and the fact that research output has continued to increase
exponentially. With the incidence of heart failure on the rise, a trend predicted to continue, it
is imperative that treatment strategies are improved. The development and adoption of molecular
interventions might therefore present the most fruitful avenue in providing the greatest
impact on mortality rates. This commentary aims to reflect on the earliest documented studies
of human cardiovascular physiology, to surgical interventions in the 12th, to the first molecular
studies in the 20th, to current pharmacological treatments. With this knowledge in mind, the
future of molecular approaches in treating heart failure and cardiovascular conditions will be
considered.