Celebrating 50 Years of the François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center

October 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center (ACRC) at the University of Iowa’s Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, an immense milestone that celebrates half a century of groundbreaking research, clinical innovation, and educational excellence. Since its founding in 1974 by François M. Abboud, MD, the center has become a beacon of progress in the field of cardiovascular health.

Abboud, an esteemed cardiologist and researcher who defined his career, and largely, the specialty of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Iowa, founded the center with a clear vision: to create a multidisciplinary research environment dedicated to understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases. His groundbreaking work in autonomic and cardiovascular regulation laid the foundation for the center’s long-standing reputation as a leader in cardiovascular research.

In December 2013, 39 years after its formation, the State of Iowa’s Board of Regents honored Abboud by naming the Cardiovascular Research Center after him, noting that, “Dr. Abboud has devoted five decades to developing a world-class center of excellence in cardiovascular research . . . his career at Iowa has been characterized by an unparalleled commitment to excellence and leadership that led him through a steady progression of key leadership positions at the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.” One of those leadership positions was chair & DEO of the Department of Internal Medicine for 26 years, in addition to his ACRC directorship.

Only three physician-scientists have held the position of director of the ACRC since its establishment: François Abboud, MD, 1974–2012; Mark Anderson, MD, PhD, 2012–2014; and now, Barry London, MD, PhD, who took the reins in 2015 and still holds them today. London also directs the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine.

“The history of the cardiovascular center has been to be at the forefront of basic science research, both in terms of the types of research that we were doing and in terms of developing physician scientists and PhD scientists whose focus was predominantly basic research,” London said. “One of the things that we’ve done over the last decade is to try to broaden that scope. So that includes developing and working to develop an outcomes research program, expanding clinical and translational research that’s been done.” London cited a number of successes to emerge from the ACRC including “collaborations and support projects that were relevant for industry.”

One such project was led by Steven Mickelsen, MD. Mickelsen is currently an assistant professor in Cardiovascular Medicine who completed a fellowship in Cardiology and a fellowship in Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Iowa. His significant contributions to the field of electrophysiology include innovative catheter designs through the FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) system, which uses pulsed electric fields to selectively remove cardiac tissue, allowing treatment of atrial fibrillation with minimal damage to surrounding tissues.

Collaboration—across disciplines, across career levels, and across institutions—is imbued in the culture of the ACRC. Anderson, who succeeded Abboud as both ACRC director and department chair, said of Abboud and the culture he created: “Frank came to Iowa, stayed in Iowa, poured all his love and energy into Iowa, and championed cardiovascular research—and more broadly, a mechanism of growing it through collaborative efforts. The trick was, as he brought in others like Michael Welsh, Don Heistad, and Kevin Campbell, they developed program grants. This supported the culture of growing this large research program, research in the field, and the cores that enabled research, enabling the grant that ran for a long time to support training undergrads and postdocs.”

Funded almost continually through the Cardiovascular Center Institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA) since 1975, the center’s research fellowship program graduated up to 15 physician-scientists each year. Trainees participated in seminars, graduate courses, bench research, genomic and clinical research, and more, with the primary goal of pursuing an academic career.

As Abboud said in his keynote speech at the center’s 40th anniversary celebration, “The legacy is not in the number of grants, nor even the knowledge we discovered; it is in the mentoring we’ve extended to more than a thousand trainees. It is in the passion we transmit every day, and the values we live by, and they inherit.”

Over the past five decades, members of the ACRC have made significant contributions to the field of cardiovascular medicine, solidifying this growing legacy while continuing to build it. Among their many notable achievements are advancements in:

• Cardiovascular genetics and development: Researchers at the center have made remarkable strides in identifying genetic predictors of sudden cardiac death and congenital heart defects, enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic tools for clinical cardiology.
• Cystic Fibrosis and pulmonary diseases: The center’s groundbreaking work on the biology of cystic fibrosis and the development of gene transfer techniques has opened new avenues for treatment.
• Diabetes and obesity: Investigations into the molecular mechanisms linking hypertension, obesity, and metabolism have led to innovative therapies for cardiovascular diseases associated with these conditions.

“It has become increasingly clear that you can’t think about cardiovascular medicine in a modern way without thinking about metabolism.”
– Mark Anderson, MD, PhD

• Hypertension research: The center employs a variety of molecular, genetic, and physiological approaches to understand and treat this prevalent condition.
• Inflammation studies: The center’s research on the cellular and molecular biology of inflammation has provided insights into conditions like heart failure, identifying potential therapeutic targets.
• Neurological and neurovascular research: By studying the central nervous system’s control of the heart and blood vessels, the center has contributed significantly to the understanding and treatment of heart failure, stroke, and dementia.
• Clinical trials: The center’s Prevention Intervention Center at the College of Public Health, led by Jennifer Robinson, MD, MPH, has conducted numerous clinical trials evaluating new modalities for chronic disease prevention, including cardiovascular prevention drugs.

Discoveries such as these are a driving force behind the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) decision to elevate the characterization of the ACRC to world-class status. Its success can be attributed to the dedication of its talented researchers and clinicians.

As the Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center celebrates its 50th anniversary, it continues to be a monument in the landscape of cardiovascular research. The center remains committed to its mission of improving cardiovascular health through innovative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and dedicated mentorship of the next generation of scientists and clinicians.

Looking to the future, the center aims to build on its legacy of excellence in training, research, and affecting patient care by embracing new technologies and methodologies that can enhance the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. With a strong foundation and a clear vision for the future, the Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center is poised to continue making significant contributions to the field of cardiovascular medicine.

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Join us on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in celebrating 50 years of the ACRC with a day-long symposium, poster session, and gala celebration. Register here.