Purpose

The Cardiovascular Sciences Center (CVSC) provides key coordination and support services for Wake Forest University School of Medicine investigators engaged in cardiovascular science research to foster innovation and new discovery. There is a special emphasis on primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention and prevention of heart failure as this aligns with the Strategic Plan and heart and vascular service line priorities. The CVSC strives to foster the success of the next generation of cardiovascular science investigators involved in research and medicine and to strengthen the connection between outstanding research faculty and clinical care providers. Our commitment to multidisciplinary team research capitalizes on several existing programmatic efforts where prevention is a key concept, and we will continue to foster integration of this theme into new initiatives.

A large group of diverse people stand together and look up toward a camera for a group shot

CVSC membership serves as program director, faculty and mentors in a number of research training programs focused on increasing diversity in the biomedical sciences and health professions. Pictured are PREP, IMSD and IRACDA trainees, mentors and faculty from the Mid-Atlantic programs at a meeting in 2019.

Goals and Future Directions

  • Communication – including communication within the Center, the rest of the Wake Forest Baptist Health, our regional patients and partners and the wider cardiovascular scientific community
  • Research Facilitation – including scientific, statistical, operational, financial and administrative support designed to generate new knowledge and to use this knowledge to enhance the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease
  • Early Career Development – the sustainability of our clinical and scientific cardiovascular enterprise requires a continuous pipeline of new scientists and clinician investigators committed to an academic career

All of our activities directly relate to one or more of these themes. 

2022 Center Annual Report Highlights:

Membership, Publication and Extramural Funding Activities

We congratulate members on continued successes and highlight below the many sustained achievements!  Membership is steadily increasing and the data indicate a gratifyingly dramatic rebound in submitted applications, which we expect will be followed by a similar bump in actual funded awards in the coming year(s).

Bar chart representing member totals, departments/centers represented, awards and publications involved with the Cardiovascular Science Center.

Bar chart representing member totals, departments/centers represented, awards and publications involved with the Cardiovascular Science Center.

Pilot Awards: Did you Know?

In 2022 we transitioned away from using the CTSI common solicitation and deadline strategy and adopted a separate solicitation and deadline in the Spring for the CVSC Pilot awards that was promoted in our emails and GoodNews newsletter. As a result, we received more than twice the number of applications as in prior years and the survey results indicated greater awareness of the program.

To maintain increased awareness, we intend to continue this approach in 2023. In addition, we will dedicate an article in an upcoming issue of GoodNews to the pilot funding mechanism including past recipients. We highly encourage projects with collaborating investigators across the Winston-Salem and Greater Charlotte regions. Please click here to learn more about the CVSC Pilot Awards.

Total CVSC Pilot investment (as of 8/2022): $393,000 (women faculty represent 58% and URM faculty represent 26% of the CVSC Pilots funded)

Total extramural funding from Award recipients (as of 8/2022): $4.8 M

Ratio of subsequent funding/investment: 12:1

At least 8 grants have been submitted with a total of 4 awarded for a 50% success rate