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Council on Cardiovascular
Disease in the Young
Strengthening Relationships
F
or almost
a decade,
the CVDY
Council and the
Japanese Society of
Pediatric Cardiology
and Cardiac Surgery
have maintained
an ongoing
collaboration. Each
year, the two groups
meet to discuss the
latest topics in the
field and how their
two strategies can
best align.
MESSAGE
FROM THE
CHAIR
Notably, there are 54 CVDY members who come from
Japan. This is the third largest international group within
the CVDY Council.
Bill Mahle
MD, FAHA
Bill Mahle,
MD, FAHA
The JSPCCS was originally formed in 1963
and represented an informal group of interested
pediatric cardiologists in Japan. The group
has met annually since that time. In 1977, the
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and published in Circulation, including the
upcoming update on the Kawasaki disease
guidelines as well as the revision of the adult
congenital guidelines.
The American Heart Association has
renewed its emphasis on international
membership. There is an international
mentoring committee that is available. This is
particularly valuable for AHA members from
other countries who may lack access to certain
superspecialty research or clinical areas. The
CVDY and JSPCCS hope to further strengthen
ties in the years to come.
healthy living is why.
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Children’s
Cardiomyopathy
Foundation
T
he Children’s Cardiomyopathy
Foundation (CCF) is pleased to
announce the availability of one-year
research grants for studies focused on all
forms of pediatric cardiomyopathy (Dilated,
Hypertrophic, Restrictive, Left Ventricular
Non-Compaction or Arrhythmogenic Right
Ventricular Cardiomyopathy).
The purpose of CCF’s Research Grant
Program is to advance knowledge of the
basic mechanism of the disease and to
develop more accurate diagnostic methods
and improved therapies for children
affected by cardiomyopathy.
Eligibility: Principal investigators must
hold an M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent degree,
reside in the United States or Canada
and have a faculty appointment at an
accredited U.S. or Canadian institution.
Funding: US $25,000 to US $50,000
for one year of total direct costs.
Application Process: CCF requires
a letter of intent in advance of the grant
application. The 2015 deadline for letters of
intent is Friday, June 12 by 5:00 p.m. eastern
standard time. Only investigators who have
submitted a Letter of Intent and have been
invited to submit a formal grant application
will be considered for CCF funding.
Please visit CCF’s website www.
childrenscardiomyopathy.org (click on
Research/Grants & Awards) for application
guidelines and to view past grant awards.
For more information, contact Lisa Yue,
founding executive director, at lyue@
childrenscardiomyopathy.org.
healthy living for patients, their families & caregivers
The Council on Cardiovascular Disease
in the Young is proud to announce a new
special focus area at Scientific Sessions
called Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease
and Heart Health in the Young. Stay
tuned to scientificsessions.org for
CONNECTIONS SPRING 2015
Eleventh International Kawasaki Disease Symposium held Feb. 3-6 in Honolulu: (left to right) Greg
Chin, president of the Kawasaki Disease Foundation; program chairs Bryan McCrindle, MD, and Anne
Rowley, MD; AHA President Elliott Antman, MD; and Tomisaku Kawasaki, MD.
society was named Japanese Research Group
of Pediatric Cardiology, and then changed to its
current name in 1982 when it became affiliated
with the Japan Pediatric Society. The JSPCCS
was instrumental in hosting the 1997 Second
World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology
and Cardiac Surgery, which was originally
scheduled to be held in Japan, but was moved
following an earthquake.
Currently, this society has more than
2,000 members. Seventy-five percent of them
are pediatricians, pediatric cardiologists,
cardiologists or other medical physicians and
25 percent are cardiovascular surgeons. The
group meets annually as a scientific program
each summer in July at rotating Japanese
locations. The annual scientific meeting always
includes a number of international speakers.
For almost a decade now, the JSPCCS
has reached out to the CVDY Council for
collaboration at this summer meeting. There
are typically three to five CVDY faculty
nominees who participate each summer in this
meeting. In addition, the JSPCCS leadership
meets with the CVDY leadership at AHA’s
Scientific Sessions each year. Notably, there
are 54 CVDY members who come from Japan.
This is the third largest international group
within the CVDY Council.
The CVDY and JSPCCS have mapped
out a number of future initiatives to further
strengthen these ties. The AHA makes an effort
to ensure that faculty members from Japan
are included each year in Scientific Sessions.
Thirty-eight submissions to the pediatric
portion of Scientific Sessions come from
Japan, and these include both basic science and
clinical outcomes.
Last year, for example, one of the outstanding
abstract presentations came from Dr. Sanos’
group discussing the clinical trial of progenitor
cells for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
In addition, the JSPCCS and the CVDY
will initiate an exchange program for trainees
to allow exposure to unique subspecialties.
These will include fields such as Kawasaki
disease, stem cell or progenitor cell research
or pulmonary hypertension, among other
areas. In addition, where possible, the AHA
has sought to have input from Japanese experts
in relevant statements sponsored by the AHA
information as it becomes available.
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