What are the reasons for merging the EACPR Exercise Physiology and Basic & Translational Research Sections ?
One year ago the Board of our Association raised the problem of a possible overlap between the fields of interest of the Exercise Physiology and the Basic & Translational Research Sections. Preliminary contacts between the Sections’ representatives confirmed that this was indeed the case, as demonstrated on the one hand by the eminently translational characteristics of the Exercise Physiology Section activities and, on the other hand, by the predominant interest of the Basic & Translational Research Section in exercise physiology-related issues. It was thus seen as natural to consider a possible merger of the two Sections.
What are the benefits of this merger?
The two Sections met in Barcelona during the last ESC Congress. It was decided that a merger would make sense only if it yielded significant benefits for the new Section’s scientific activities. It was clearly apparent to the Sections’ members that such benefits could be gained through shared contacts and joint initiatives aimed at promoting interchanges amongst the different fields of expertise available in the new Section. The basic concept was to obtain a scientific gain larger than the simple addition of the two Section’s potentialities.
What are the objectives and projects for the new Exercise, Basic & Translational Research Section?
The new Section’s Operational Guidelines, recently approved in Leipzig by the nucleus members, state the Section’s mission as follows:
‘The mission of the Exercise, Basic & Translational Research Section of the European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (EACPR) is to promote and facilitate high-quality research and education related to exercise, basic and translational science in the fields of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation and sports cardiology, bringing together scientists from a broad range of disciplines. This mission will be accomplished by placing emphasis on issues deemed of interest for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of cardiovascular diseases, such as cardiovascular and exercise physiology and pathophysiology, functional genomics, cell signaling and energetics, myocardial and vascular biology, etc., and by favouring the application of basic knowledge to patient populations. The Section will help in establishing communication and facilitating interchange between the EACPR Sections and the EACPR and other scientific societies, and in favouring the formation of international interest groups to promote scientific interactions and activities on selected topics’.
What will be the section's main projects for the coming years?
The Section is currently undertaking the SMARTEX-HF Study (Study of Myocardial Recovery after Exercise Training in Heart Failure), a European randomized multicenter clinical trial designed to test the hypothesis that a 12-week program of aerobic interval training yields larger beneficial effects in stable heart failure patients than current practice. Inclusion of 200 patients (LVEF < 0.35) from Antwerp, Copenhagen, Leipzig, Munich, Stavanger, Trondheim and Utrecht is underway from April 2009 through 2011; the primary endpoint of the study is reverse remodeling, assessed by changes in left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions. Of note, this study has recently been included among the flagship projects of the EACPR, which testifies to its scientific relevance.
Another important ongoing activity of the Section is the drafting of a joint position paper with the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation on ‘Standards for the assessment and prescription of aerobic exercise intensity in cardiac rehabilitation’. The writing group has already been formed and is composed of 4 European and 4 American members; the paper outline is currently being discussed and will shortly be defined, after which the drafting process can begin.
In addition, other activities previously approved by the Exercise Physiology and the Basic & Translational Research Sections will be brought to completion by the new Section.
How can the EACPR members contribute to the above?
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