Program Overview

The 11th Annual International Academy of Cardiology-North American Section (IACS-NAS) is a 2½-day in-person course that is comprised of about 80 lectures delivered by a distinguished group of physician-scientists and scientists. The lectures will cover all contemporary topics related to cardiovascular medicine, ranging from basic science discoveries to clinical cardiology. Leading cardiovascular scientists - basic researchers and clinical investigators are committed to participating in and delivering the lectures.

The purpose of the annual scientific meeting is to present the latest scientific discoveries to a broad group of audience, comprised of physicians, basic scientists, clinical investigators, clinical practitioners, and trainees (both clinical and basic science trainees). We are honored to have secured commitments from world-class experts in the field, who will converge in Houston, Texas, during this two- and half-day conference. A partial list of the confirmed speakers is available at www.iacs-nas.com.

The program includes thematic sessions covering state-of-the-art clinical cardiology and basic cardiovascular sciences. Specifically, the program includes sessions, each comprised of 4 to 5 lectures, on the following topics:

• Advances in Cardiovascular Sciences (2 sessions comprised of 8 lectures)
• Vascular Biology
• Genetics and Genomics
• Cell and Gene Therapy for Heart Failure
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Metabolic Regulation of Heart Failure
• Cardiovascular Aging
• Lipids and Atherosclerosis
• Myocardial Fibrosis
• Heart Failure (2 sessions comprised of 8 lectures)
• Gene and Base Editing

The IACS-NAS has a strong commitment to promoting the academic careers of young investigators and has devised the following young and early-career investigator programs:

• Roberto Bolli MD Young Investigator Award session
  • Four post-doctoral fellows will compete for the award.
• Gary Lopaschuk PhD Graduate Student Award session
  • Four graduate students will be selected from the submitted abstract for this competition.
• Buddha Dawn MD Early Career Award session
  • Four junior faculty will compete for the award.
• Morris Karmazyn Best Poster Awards session
  • The awardee and the finalists will be chosen from the posters presented during the meeting.
• Margaret Moffat Best Poster Awards session
  • The awardee and the finalists will be chosen from the posters presented during the meeting.

Our target audience includes clinical cardiologists, clinical investigators, cardiovascular surgeons, basic cardiovascular investigators, post-doctoral research fellows in cardiovascular sciences, clinical fellows, other medical trainees and medical students, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses.

Learning Objectives

After each lecture in the series, the participant should be able to:

• Define the current state of myocardial regeneration after myocardial infarction.
• Define current applications of base and gene editing for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including hypercholesterolemia and cardiomyopathies.
• Identify the current state of gene therapy for cardiovascular diseases.
• Be knowledgeable on the impact of metabolic changes and obesity in cardiovascular diseases.
• Cite how much residual risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome after weight loss.
• Explain the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis and treatment of atrial fibrillation.
• Illustrate the role of cell therapy in heart failure and improving its outcomes.
• Interpret the role of cell death in cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart failure.
• Explain how to diagnose and manage patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
• Review potential new therapeutic targets to reduce cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.
• Describe the novel therapies for atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia.
• Explain the latest about the pathogenesis of aortic disease.
• Define the molecular basis of myocardial fibrosis and learn about the new therapies for it.
• Evaluate new therapies for dyslipidemia.
• Define the new therapies for hereditary cardiomyopathies.

Purpose:

The purpose of the annual scientific meeting is to present the latest scientific discoveries to a broad group of audience, comprised of basic scientists, clinical investigators, clinical practitioners, and trainees (both clinical and basic science trainees). The meeting is expected to present to the practicing physicians and clinical investigators the latest basic science discoveries and vice versa, expose the basic cardiovascular scientists to the current unresolved clinical problems. Likewise, the purpose is to update the practicing cardiovascular provided with the latest clinical advances and educate them on the current state of the clinical cardiovascular science.

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of The Texas Heart Institute, UTHealth Houston, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, and The International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (IACS). The Texas Heart Institute is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The Texas Heart Institute designates this live activity for a maximum of 17.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.