Annals of Heart

Dr. Gundu HR Rao is an Emeritus Professor & Director of Thrombosis Research at Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. He immigrated to the USA in 1965 and specialized in grain storage technology and obtained his Ph.D degree from the Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. After working as a post-doctoral fellow at the Texas A& M University and University of Minnesota, he joined department of Pharmacology as an NIH fellow to get training in toxicology. He has been with the University of Minnesota Medical School for over 40 years. He also has faculty appointments in Anesthesiology, Lillehei Heart Institute, and Biomedical Engineering Institute. He is an author or co-author of over 300 publications in the field of interest (thrombosis and stroke). In the past, he has consulted various medical device development companies in the Twin Cities including 3M, Medtronic Inc, St Jude Medical, Medical CV Inc, Vascular Solutions, APP Tech, Endocardial Solutions, PlaCor Inc., Medical Innovations Inc, Hypertension Diagnostics Inc. and Boston Scientific on problems related to biocompatibility, thrombosis and stroke. Dr. Rao's research interests include platelet physiology and pharmacology; cellular activation signaling mechanisms; anti-platelet drug delivery and platelet–biomaterial interactions; pathophysiology and prevention of coronary artery disease; and biochemical and molecular markers for risk assessment for type-2 diabetes.

Dr. Constantine E Anagnostopoulos is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center and Senior Attending Cardiac Surgery at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, New York, USA. He is also Professor Emeritus of Cardiac Surgery, University of Athens, Greece. He received A.B. with honors in 1959, M.D. with honors in 1963 and Doctor of Science in 1967 at University of Athens, Athens, Greece. In 1969 he was appointed Assistant Professor of Surgery in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at The University of Chicago and was promoted in 1979 to Professor of Surgery. In 1982 he became Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Professor and Senior Attending in Surgery at the State University of NY at Stony Brook . Dr. Constantine was appointed Sr. Attending, Chair and Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Professor of Surgery at St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center/Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in 1991. Dr. Constantine's research interests focused mainly on Acute Aortic Dissection, Transposition of the Great Vessels, Rectus Sheath Autografts, Database Analysis of Coronary and Valvular Surgery as well as animal experimental models.

Dr. Dimitri Novitzky is Director of Transplant Research at Tampa Transplant Institute, Florida, USA; since 2009. For the last 20 years (1989-2009) Dr. Novitzky worked as Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of South Florida (USF). He graduated (1969) from La Plata School of Medicine, Argentina. He was awarded with a PhD by the University of Cape Town. Dr. Novitzky is a heart transplant surgeon, recognized by UNOS since 1987. At the Tampa VA Medical Center, He was Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, involved in all aspects of the perioperative management of patients requiring cardiac surgery. He performs open heart surgery and provide coverage for the Thoracic Trauma Service. Dr. Novitzky is a special expertise in Cardiac Surgical Procedures, Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB), Coronary Artery Bypass(Heart Bypass), Coronary Disease, Heart Transplantation, Heart-Lung Transplantation, Kidney Transplant (Renal Transplant), Lung Transplantation, Myocardial Diseases, Myocardial Infarction.

Dr. Michele Di Mauro is Honorary Professor of Cardiac Surgery at University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Italy. He received his MD degree from "G D'Annunzio" University in Italy. PhD in Cardiovascular Science at University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. Dr. Di Mauro is board certified in cardiac surgery and cardiovascular medicine. He is Editor-in-Chief od Italian Bullettin of Cardiac Surgery. He is in the Board of Italian Journal of Cardiology and Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine and is guest reviewer for many cardiovascular journals. He is author or co-author of many studies in the field of treatment, either medical or surgical, of heart failure. He is also a staff surgeon at University Hospital of Chieti. Dr. Di Mauro's research interests include Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cardiac Surgery and Echocardiography.

Dr. Steve Leslie is currently a Professor at University of Stirling, Scotland and University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland. He is also an interventional cardiologist and is clinical lead for the heart failure service. He is associate director of research, development and innovation in NHS Highland and has honorary research posts. He graduated MBChB from the University of Edinburgh in 1994 and with a PhD in cardiovascular pharmacology in 2005. His research interests focus on the equitable access to care for patients in remote areas and use of communication technologies. He also maintains close links with basic science research at the University of the Highlands and Islands. He currently is principle or co-investigator on several academic and commercial studies. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and on the editorial board of several cardiovascular journals. Dr. Steve's Research interests include Heart failure, Remote and rural healthcare, Communication technology, Coronary intervention.

Dr. Subodh Verma is a Professor at the University of Toronto, Cardiac surgeon scientist at St. Michael's Hospital, and the Canada Research Chair in Atherosclerosis. He received his PhD (1993-1997) in Cardiovascular Pharmacology; The University of British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Verma spearheads the CARDIOLINK clinical trials platform at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital. CARDIOLINK will be conducting studies on post‐cardiac surgery atrial fibrillation (SEARCH‐AF), cerebral protection during aortic surgery (ACE), diabetes and secondary prevention (ENABLE‐NP), mitral valve repair (CAMRA‐1) and anti‐inflammatory management of critical limb ischemia (EXTINGUISH). He has received the Howard Morgan Award from the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Gold Medal in Surgery. He is involved in several clinical trials and oversees a dynamic pre-clinical research laboratory that focuses on the roles of risk factors, inflammation and autophagy in cardiovascular health. Dr. Verma's research interests include Cardiac surgery in adults, Bicuspid aortopathy, Mitral valve prolapsed, Diabetic heart, Cardiac surgery clinical trials, Peripheral arterial disease. Dr Verma's current h‐index is 57, with 12,380 total citations to 236 publications.

Prof. Arnon Blum is Professor of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Israel; He is the incoming Director of Internal Medicine Department in the Faculty of Medicine, and a member of 5 steering committees at Bar-Ilan University's School of Medicine in the Galilee. Prof. Blum received his MD at the Technion, specialized in Internal Medicine at Hebrew University, and then in Cardiology at Tel-Aviv University. He served in the IDF as a Flight Surgeon (Lieutenant Colonel). Since 1999 Prof. Arnon Blum has been the Director of the Internal Medicine Ward at Baruch Padeh Medical Center-Poriya, Tiberias. Prof. Blum further concentrated on Vascular Biology and Vascular Stem Cell research, receiving his training at the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD, USA; 1997-1999 and 2006-2008) exploring means for cardio-vascular regeneration. In 2011-12, he was invited as a visiting Professor to lead a clinical trial at the University of Miami for adult (mesenchymal) stem cell transplants to patients with severe heart failure. There, he discovered a key mechanism that explains the beneficial effects of cell transplantation to the failing heart. Prof. Blum's research interests include 1) Endothelial Progenitor Stem Cell Research; 2) Endothelial Function and Vascular Biology; 3) Heart Failure and Preventive Cardiology; 4) Stem Cell Transplantation for Cardiovascular Disease.

Prof. Giovanni Iolascon is Professor of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at the Second University of Naples, Italy. He is author of several papers published on National and International Journals. He is invited speaker to several National and International Congresses. His research interest is in the field of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and in particular in Pain Management. Prof. Iolascon is an active member of several national and international Scientific Societies. He is a Member of the Management Committee of: Italian Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SIMFER); Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (SIOT); Italian Society of Osteoporosis, Mineral Metabolism and Skeletal Diseases (SIOMMMS); Italian Society of Surgery in Osteoporotic Patients (SICOST); Italian Group for Study of Severe Osteoporosis (GISOOS).

Dr. Andrzej J Jaroszyński obtained his PhD from Medical University of Lublin (Poland) in 1997. Currently he is serving as a professor to the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce (Poland). He is a specialist in internal medicine, nephrology, and family medicine. He serves as a chair for the Department of Nephrology at the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce. He has got more than 100 publications in his academic/research career, acting mainly on the following subjects: cardionephrology, sudden cardiac death, heart failure, vascular calcification, atherosclerosis, peritoneal dialysis. He is the member for several professional organizations.

Dr. Rosalinda Madonna is Chair of Cardiology and Assistant Professor at Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University in Chieti - Italy, and also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Texas. She received her MD in Medicine and Surgery, PhD in Biotechnologies and Biosciences and Cardiology Specialization at "G. D'Annunzio" University in Chieti, Italy. She worked as A Researcher Fellow and then as Research Scientist at Texas Heart Institute in Houston - Texas, at Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Atherosclerosis Research at University of Texas Medical School in Houston and at the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville in Kentucky. She has authored 98 papers and 15 book chapters. She has been ex-officio nucleus member of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group in Cellular Biology of the Heart, Vice-Chairman of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group in Cellular Biology of the Heart and Councilor of the Italian Society of Cardiovascular Research (SIRC). Her research interests are atherosclerosis, stem cells and regenerative medicine.

Dr. Edgard Andre Bendaly graduated from American University of Beirut, Lebanon. After finishing one year of research training at Indiana University with the cardiology department, he started his pediatric residency and then completed a pediatric cardiology fellowship at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. After one year of extra training in congenital interventional cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern, Dr. Bendaly joined Sanford Health where he had the opportunity to start, and be the director of, the pediatric cardiac catheterization program. Dr. Bendaly has American Board certified in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology and recently in Adult Congenital Heart Disease. He is also a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member in the American Heart Association and in the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Dr. Bendaly's research interests include congenital heart disease, acquired heart disease in the young, interventional congenital cardiology, structural heart disease, adult congenital heart disease, cardiac catheterization laboratory management and safety, congestive heart failure in the young and pulmonary hypertension.

Dr. Renee Bullock Palmer is the Director of Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging, Nuclear Cardiology as well as the Women's Heart Center at Deborah Heart and Lung hospital center. She completed her General Cardiology fellowship at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate medical center in Brooklyn NY in 2009 and thereafter completed an Advanced Cardiac Imaging fellowship at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital center of Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, USA. She has had several publications in the field of Cardiology and served as a site principal investigator for the NIH sponsored national multicenter PROMISE trial. She has a particular interest in Women's heart health and Cardiac Imaging. Dr. BullockPalmer is a council member of the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and has been involved in several committees with the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) as well as the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE). She has received several awards including being listed in 2016 as Who's Who in Health Care" by South Jersey Biz Magazine. She has also been listed in 2016 as one of Inside Jersey Top Doctors for Women's Health and has also been listed as one of Castle Connelly's Top Doctors in New Jersey and Philadelphia in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Dr. Ghali is Professor of Medicine at Mercer University. He is the Associate Chair for Clinical Research and Chief of Cardiology. He received his MD degree from Damascus University in Syria. He is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine. As principal investigator, Dr. Ghali has conducted over 200 clinical trials predominantly in heart failure and has contributed to the medical literature more than 200 publications, predominantly in the field of heart failure. He currently serves as editor and Editor-in-chief for several journals. He has served as a member of several steering committees, adjudication committees and data and safety monitoring boards in various heart failure trials. He came to Mercer from Detroit where he held the positions of Director of Cardiovascular clinical trials and the heart failure program at the Cardiovascular Institute, Detroit Medical Center, Chief of Cardiology, Detroit Receiving Hospital and Associate Chair for Research at Wayne State University. Dr. Ghali's research interests include Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases, Vascular Medicine, Advances in Medicine, Vascular Surgery, Translational Medicine.

Dr. Bai Yan Li is a professor of pharmacology at Harbin Medical University, China. Dr. Li obtained his M.D and M.S from Harbin Medical University, China and his Ph.D from Kitasato University, Japan. The long-term goal of Dr. Li's research interests is to understand ion channel mechanisms of baroreflex afferent pathway including nodose ganglia and nucleus tractus solitary neurotransmission in regulation of blood pressure/circulation and the potential role of these key components in the incidence of hypertension with related sexual dimorphism by using variety of approaches, including patch-clamp technique, molecular, biochemical, and immunohistochemical analysis, conjugated with their unique Vagus-nodose slice and isolated neuron preparation. Dr. Li's research also focuses on cardiovascular pharmacology and electrophysiology to understand ion channel regulation of arrhythmia. In the past 7 years, Dr. Li's Lab has been funded for 5 research grants including 4 from National Natural Science Foundation of China with outstanding publication records in those journal including Circulation, Circulation research, Hypertension, International Journal of Cardiology, Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Neurochemistry, Oncotarget, Acta Pharmacologica Sinica.