Author: Gabrielle Flora, Associate Director, BRC
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The 12th Annual Global Cardio Vascular Clinical Trialists Forum (CVCT) brings together experts throughout the cardiovascular clinical trial pipeline. It is co-chaired by Dr. Faiez Zannad, Professor of Therapeutics and Cardiology at the Universite de Lorraine in France and Director of the Clinical Investigation Center for InsermCHU, and Bertram Pitt, Professor of Medicine Emeritus at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. “It is a wonderful place to hear the latest results of clinical trials and discuss where they’re going in the future,” said Professor Pitt on his participation with the conference. Jean Paul Clozel, CEO of Actelion Pharmaceuticals, will deliver the keynote address.

In anticipation of this event, the BioPharma Research Council hosted a preview webinar on Monday, November 2. The purpose of the webinar was to allow the CVCT to outline its goals for their organization and for this conference and to showcase research that experts will present during the event. Dr. Zannad and Professor Pitt moderated the webinar and introduced the speakers: Dr. Jeffrey Borer, Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology, Radiology, and Surgery and Director for the The Howard Gilman Institute for Heart Valve Diseases and The Schiavone Cardiovascular Translational Institute, and Dr. Carolyn Lam Su Ping, Senior Consultant of the National Heart Centre in Singapore, Associate Professor at Duke-NUS, and Cardiovascular Academic Clinical Program Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Association of Women’s Cardiovascular Disease.

“The opportunity to meet on a level ground and discuss the opportunities for therapeutic development is very important,” said Dr. Borer, “and I think this is an extraordinarily valuable meeting, the CVCT meeting.” During the webinar, he gave a brief overview of his work with a medication, Ivabradine, designed to reduce hospital readmissions after heart failure.

Recently, the organization broadened its boundaries by establishing a CVCT Forum in Asia. Dr. Lam Su Ping believes the CVCT Asia is critical to furthering clinical research of cardiovascular disease. “There is a high burden of cardiovascular disease in Asia,” said Dr. Lam Su Ping. “Cardiovascular is magnified in Asia and there is an immense diversity of the disease.”

After the first CVCT Asia Forum’s success, the organization has sought to further develop its international presence by establishing CVCT conferences in other parts of the world. “The CVCT aims to foster an international exchange of ideas,” said Dr. Zannad. In April of 2016 they will host an African and Middle Eastern CVCT Forum in Abu Dhabi.

The agenda is unique in that it dedicates most of its time to discussion among colleagues instead of lecturing. The aim is to engage attendees by addressing issues and suggesting innovative solutions together, simultaneously presenting groundbreaking research into clinical therapies for cardiovascular disease. Between 300 and 400 experts will attend. “This is one of the most, I believe, exciting meetings today,” said Professor Pitt.

For Full Recording and Information on this webinar, please click here.