Our History and Mission

The Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences (CICS) was established in 2009 by a collaboration agreement between the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, MA) and Kowa Company, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan).

The goals of CICS are to promote better understanding of the mechanisms of cardiovascular inflammation and cardiometabolic disorders and to enhance further advancement in cardiovascular prevention and therapy through a translational research program that consists of investigators from academia and industry with multidisciplinary backgrounds acting in concert in a shared space.

 

CICS News

November 18th, 2024

CICS @AHA24

CICS directors Elena Aikawa, Masanori Aikawa, and Sasha Singh led their mentees Rachel Cahalane, Sarvesh Chelvanambi, Cassandra Clift, Constance Delwarde, Prabhash Jha, Yuto Nakamura, and Mandy Turner at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024, where they found themselves amongst like-minded scientists united with the same mission of freeing the world of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Our directors and scientists gave incredible presentations, emphasizing the importance of basic science in saving lives. Highlights included Masanori Aikawa's Russell Ross Memorial Lectureship and awarding of the ATVB travel grants to Sarvesh Chelvanambi, Constance Delwarde, and Prabhash Jha, as well as meals and laughs shared together. 

 

November 17th, 2024

Dr. Masanori Aikawa awarded the annual Russell Ross Memorial Lectureship

Our very own Dr. Masanori Aikawa delivered the prestigious Russell Ross Memorial Lectureship, one of three named lectures presented annually at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions. It was established to recognize outstanding contributions to vascular biology and atherosclerosis research and named after Dr. Russell Ross, whose groundbreaking work profoundly shaped the understanding of atherosclerosis pathogenesis. Dr. Aikawa presented his life's work dedicated to the study of vascular biology and employing a novel approach in doing so. We celebrate this great honor and historical moment, as Dr. Aikawa becomes the first Asian individual to receive this lectureship. He was presented with his honorary plaque at the ATVB Council's business meeting and luncheon. Congratulations to Dr. Masanori Aikawa, an inspiration to vascular biologists worldwide!

 

October 25th, 2024

Inaugural CICS Omics Day

We are thrilled to share the success of our first-ever "Omics Day," which featured a compelling keynote address by Dr. Hooman Mirzakhani, M.D., Ph.D.. Dr. Mirzakhawni, a network scientist at the Channing Division of Network Medicine, showcased how network-based approaches can illuminate complex biological systems. He highlighted exciting opportunities for translating omics data into therapeutic discoveries. 

Following his talk, representatives from CICS shared updates on their projects, sparking discussions on collaborative prospects. 

We are excited to build on the momentum of this inaugural event. Hosting regular Omics Days will deepen our understanding of the rapidly evolving world of omics and foster new collaborations that could shape the future of our research. We can't wait to see where this journey takes us!

 

October 21st, 2024

Dr. Masanori Aikawa Gives a Talk at Cardiovascular Medicine Grand Rounds

Dr. Masanori Aikawa, co-Director and founder of CICS, was invited to present at Brigham and Women's Hospital's Cardiovascular Medicine Grand Rounds this afternooon. His talk, titled "A path to Precision Medicine for Vascular Diseases: A Focus on Macrophage Heterogeneity," highlighted cutting-edge approaches to understanding and treating vascular conditions. 

Dr. Aikawa's presentation covered a range of important topics related to macrophages, including the role of macrophage heterogeneity in cardiovascular disease. He delved into emerging researh on the impact of macrophages in long COVID, HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART), and more, providing insights into how these conditions impact vascular health. Dr. Aikawa discussed a systems approach to research and target discovery, emphasizing the potential for precision medicine in developing more effective treatments for vascular diseases. 

Dr. Masanori Aikawa's talk was educational and inspiring, demonstrating to the audience just how powerful a systems approach can be in advancing research and uncovering new possibilities for precision medicine. The talk attracted new attention to upcoming research initiatives from both Dr. Aikawa's labs, sparking interest and enthusiasm within the community. 

 

October 11th, 2024

Dr. Elena Aikawa Presents at the First International Symposium on Cardiovascular Calcification 

CICS PI Dr. Elena Aikawa gave a talk at the First International Symposium on Cardiovascular Calcification, held in Nice, France. This prestigious event brought together leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to discuss the latest developments in understanding and managing cardiovascular calcification.

Elena's presentation, entitled "The role of calcification in atherosclerotic plaque rupture and aortic valve disease", showcased the innovative work being conducted in our lab. Her contribution highlighted important advances that could have a significant impact on cardiovascular health.

We congratulate Elena on this achievement and look forward to further developments from her research!

 

October 8th, 2024

Dr. Masanori Aikawa Selected to Deliver Prestigious Alexander W. Clowes Distinguished Lecture at ISACB 2024

Dr. Masanori Aikawa was honored with the pretigious opportunity to deliver the Alexander W. Clowes Distinguished Lecture at the International Society for Applied Cardiovascular Biology (ISACB) 2024 conference. This annual lecture commemorates the late Alec Clowes, a professor of surgery at the University of Washington and a renowned vascular surgeon-scientist whose pioneering work greatly influenced the field. 

Dr. Aikawa, an esteemed figure in cardiovascular research, presented a lecture titled "Macrophage Activation and Heterogeneity in Vascular Diseases: A Systems Approach to Target Discovery." His talk delved into the critical roles of macrophages in vascular health and disease, shedding light on their heterogenous functions and potential as targets for therapeutic intervention. 

This lecture is particularly significant, as it highlights cutting-edge research into the mechanistic roles of macrophages in vascular diseases, a topic that promises to advance our understanding and treatment of these conditions. Dr. Aikawa's work stands as a tribute to Dr. Clowes's legacy, emphasizing the continued importance of innovation and discovery in vascular surgery and related scientific disciplines. 

 

October 5th, 2024

Dr. Elena Aikawa's Talk and Award Presentation at ISACB 2024

On the morning of October 6th, Dr. Elena Aikawa delivered her talk, "How to Succeed in Academic Medicine?" and presented the inaugural Elena Aikawa Trailblazer Award to Dr. Ngan Huang from Stanford at the International Society for Applied Cardiovascular Biology (ISACB) Biennial Meeting in Vienna, Austria.

The award is named in honor of Dr. Elena Aikawa in recognition of her scientific accomplishments and dedication to mentoring female and underrepresented scientists. The Trailblazer Award recognizes a female member of ISACB who is at a mid-career stage and has made substantial contributions to the field of applied cardiovascular research and to the ISACB community. 

Dr. Ngan Huang's laboratory investigates the interactions between stem cells and the extracellular matrix microenvironment for engineering cardiovascular tissues to treat cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases. Her recent research focuses on the role of microgravity for drug screening of engineered muscle tissue. 

Congratulations Dr. Huang on receiving this well-deserved recognition, and to Dr. Elena Aikawa for her outstanding contributions that inspired this honor! We would also like to extend our gratitude to ISACB for establishing this award to celebrate excellence and leadership in cardiovascular research. 

 

October 5th, 2024

An Autumn Weekend in Vienna: Dr. Sasha Singh's Invited Lecture at ISACB 2024

This past weekend, on the afternoon of October 5th, CICS's Director of Proteomics Research Dr. Sasha Singh traveled to Vienna, Austria to deliver an invited lecture titled "Proteomics of Cardiovascular and Heart Valve Diseases: Changing Dogmas, Establishing New Concepts, & Facilitating Drug Target Discovery" at the International Society for Applied Cardiovascular Biology (ISACB) Biennial Meeting 2024. Dr. Singh's talk was both inspiring and educational, offering valuable insights into the evolving field of proteomics and its role in cardiovascular research. Her presentation received commendation from attendees for its depth and potential to drive future discoveries in the field. Congratulations Sasha!