Division of Cardiovascular Sciences

The Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Research Program focuses on heart function from birth through adulthood. Specific focus areas include coronary artery disease and atherothrombosis, cardiac development, pediatric and congenital heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, myocardial protection from ischemia, and resuscitation science. Branches within this program include the Atherothrombosis and Coronary Artery Disease Branch, Heart Development and Structural Diseases Branch, and Heart Failure and Arrhythmias Branch. View funding information for the Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Research Program.

The Basic and Early Translational Research Program emphasizes the development of imaging and diagnostics, therapeutics, and devices for cardiac support and repair. The program supports evidence-based surgical and clinical research that advances promising new techniques, bioinformatics, and computational and systems biology, as well as the study of the vascular system, lymphatics, and blood pressure regulation. Branches within this program include the Advanced Technologies and Surgery Branch and Vascular Biology and Hypertension Branch. View funding information for the Basic and Early Translational Research Program.

The Prevention and Population Sciences Program focuses on a wide range of research in epidemiology and prevention. Major activities supported include population-based cohort studies; studies of genetic, behavioral, and environmental influences on disease risk and outcomes; and clinical trials focused on prevention and improvements to clinical care and public health. Branches within this program include the Clinical Applications and Prevention Branch and Epidemiology Branch. View funding information for the Prevention and Population Sciences Program.

The Office of Biostatistics Research (OBR) serves as the primary biostatistical resource for all of the NHLBI. The members of the Office collaborate broadly, participating in the planning, design, implementation, monitoring and analyses of studies funded by NHLBI, including clinical studies and basic biomedical science. OBR also undertakes data management and analysis of some studies sponsored by the Division of Intramural Research. The OBR’s primary mission is to provide objective, statistically sound, and medically relevant solutions to problems that are presented. When new methodology is needed to answer the questions posed, the OBR is expected to obtain new and valid statistical solutions which are then published in the biostatistics or medical literature. The professional staff of the OBR has interests in statistical methodology relevant to clinical research studies. Methodological interests include survival analysis, longitudinal data analysis, statistical genetics, and efficient study designs for clinical trials, including monitoring for efficacy and safety while trials are ongoing and mid-trial corrections. The OBR has been at the forefront of research in new statistical methods in these areas. The OBR has one initiative of its own, the Summer Institute for Research Education in Biostatistics (SIBS). View funding information for the Office of Biostatistics Research.

The Office of Clinical Research is responsible for coordinating clinical research oversight and regulatory activities among NHLBI extramural divisions.  This includes developing and maintaining standard operating procedures, guiding policy and practice, developing database and informatics tools to facilitate clinical research oversight, providing staff support to NHLBI-funded trials, and managing NHLBI’s data and safety monitoring boards and other clinical research oversight boards. OCR staff conduct training, and advise NHLBI staff and extramural investigators about clinical research conduct and requirements. View funding information for the Office of Clinical Research.