For immediate release -
2006-49
VANCOUVER (October 24, 2006) - Understanding the role of hereditary factors in heart disease could help alleviate the burden of the approximately 400,000 Canadians affected by heart failure and patients suffering from heart attack.
That's why one of the longest running studies of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors in the world, the Framingham Heart Study, is turning its focus to genetic factors in heart disease.
"Several decades ago results stemming from the Framingham Heart Study revealed that smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure increased the risk of the heart disease," said Dr. Daniel Levy, the Director of the study. "Now, we are ready to build on past research successes. In the next phase of the study, we are seeking to understand the role of genetic factors in cardiovascular disease."
This week at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2006 in Vancouver, Dr. Levy will receive the Distinguished Lecture and Prize in Cardiovascular Science from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health. This award is given to an outstanding researcher for their advancement of cardiovascular sciences.
Each year, winners of this prestigious award deliver a major presentation at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, Canada's largest scientific meeting.
"Imagine the benefits to the health care system in being able to identify those who are at risk of developing heart diseases such as heart attack or heart failure before symptoms occur," said Dr. Peter Liu, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health. "We hope that the future results of the Framingham Heart Study will lead to the further understanding of how genetic factors relate to heart disease. If we can institute preventive strategies, we can prevent heart disease altogether. Then, heart disease won't have to be the number one killer of people in both Canada and the United States."
The Framingham Heart Study, from the United States' National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), began in 1948 and originally included 5,209 men and women living in Framingham, Massachusetts. In 1971, 5,124 of the original participants' children and spouses were enrolled in the study, and starting in 2002, 4095 grandchildren of the original participants joined.
Dr. Levy will talk about the significant achievements of this massive study, which underpins much of our knowledge of heart disease today, and its future directions.
What: Lecture on "NHLBI'S Framingham Heart Study: Past Achievements, Current Directions, and Future AmbitionsTime: 11:00a.m. -12:30p.m. Date: Tuesday, October 24th, 2006 Where: Exhibit Hall C, VCEC, Vancouver, British Columbia
About the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)CIHR is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 10,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.
About ICRH Distinguished Lecture and PrizeICRH established the annual ICRH Distinguished Lecture and Prize in collaboration with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Each year, the award recognizes outstanding national and international researchers across the spectrum of biomedical, clinical, health services and policy, and population health research, for their extraordinary contributions to the advancement of cardiovascular sciences.
The ICRH funds research projects, people, and programs related to heart, lung, blood vessel, brain (stroke), blood, critical care, and sleep disorders and diseases. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
About the heart and stroke foundationThe Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.
About the canadian cardiovascular societyThe Canadian Cardiovascular Society is a medical professional association for cardiovascular physicians and scientists with a mission to promote cardiovascular health and care through knowledge translation, professional development, and leadership in health policy.
About the canadian cardiovascular congressThe Canadian Cardiovascular Congress is the largest meeting of cardiovascular health professionals in Canada, with 3,000 attendees. The Congress is hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
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For media assistance or to arrange an interview with Dr. Levy, please contact:
Marie-France PoirierCIHR CommunicationsTel: 613-941-4563mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
or
CCC 2006 media office 604- 647-7426 (Oct 22-25, 2006)Canadian Cardiovascular Congress
