Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/795933
Precision medicine: a more personalized approach to disease prevention and treatment. The American Heart Association Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine is the only organization dedicated exclusively to advancing precision medicine in cardiovascular care. The Institute aims to preserve and prolong health by seeking more precise scientific discoveries — those that take into account a person's genetics, environment and lifestyle — for better prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. To learn more, apply for research grants or to get involved, visit institute.heart.org. New Hope for Heart Disease The American Heart Association (AHA) is well known for activities like Heart Walk and Jump Rope for Heart, but funding research is actually the cornerstone of the AHA's lifesaving mission. Since 1949, the AHA has invested more than $4 billion in research to enhance our knowledge of heart diseases and stroke. As the largest source of funding for cardiovascular diseases and stroke research next to the federal government, the AHA is committed to investing in only the best, cutting-edge science. Precision medicine — a historic shift in scientific research and medical care — is redefining the role individuals play in their health and improving patient outcomes. What this means for you is a more personalized approach to disease prevention and treatment. The new AHA Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine is the only entity dedicated exclusively to advancing precision medicine in cardiovascular care. Jennifer Hall, PhD, FAHA, FACC, is chief of the AHA Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine. The institute is designed to engage and encourage individuals to share their genetic and lifestyle data with AHA researchers and technology experts. The goal is to gain a new understanding of heart disease and stroke. "This is a historic shift combining levels of science and medical research previously unimagined," Dr. Hall says. "By taking into account a person's environment, lifestyle and genetics, we can develop better- directed, more effective treatment and prevention strategies to safeguard health." Precision medicine has been successful in other fields, like cystic fibrosis and breast cancer. The most important aspect of precision medicine is the involvement of people. "We have to engage individuals long- term," Dr. Hall points out. "We have to touch what is important to them." As precision medicine gains traction, the AHA will continue to lead the way for more precise cardiovascular care with the hope that your grandchildren will one day see a cure for heart disease. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AHA INSTITUTE FOR PRECISION CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE, VISIT INSTITUTE.HEART.ORG. Tampa Bay sponsored by 4 tgh.org / winter 2017