American Society of Echocardiography Invests in Joint Research Initiative to Help Patients Suffering from Wide-Reaching Form of Heart Failure

(DURHAM, NC, Sept. 29, 2022)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is targeting its research funding over the next five years to help solve some of the mysteries around the early detection of a common form of heart failure. ASE is one of the key partner organizations in a joint research initiative that aims to identify more precise treatment strategies for patients suffering from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

The Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Heart Failure (AMP® HF) Program will utilize more than $37 million in funding from private and public collaborators—which includes ASE—to better diagnose and develop treatment options for HFpEF and improve the outlook for millions of patients around the world. The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will facilitate the program over the next five years.

“One of ASE’s current strategic goals is to focus our efforts where they are most needed,” says Stephen H. Little, MD, FASE, FRCPC, FACC, ASE’s 2022-2023 Board of Directors President. “The Society is proud to support research projects like AMP HF because of the great promise the findings can have in advancing the field of cardiovascular ultrasound and improving patient care.”

HFpEF is a common form of heart failure that is difficult to detect. It is often deadly, with a five-year survival rate of just 35-40%. In addition to a high risk for mortality, patients with HFpEF live with declining quality of life and poor capacity to perform tasks of daily living.

The AMP HF Program will advance the understanding of HFpEF using two complementary and integrated research components: analyzing existing HFpEF datasets, sourced from public and private sector funded studies, and initiating a new clinical trial to confirm retrospective findings in an observational cohort with a goal to develop a framework for new precision treatments.

“Echocardiography is a specialty that already plays a significant role in diagnosing heart conditions, and we look forward to continuing to learn how echocardiographic screenings can be used in understanding the many still unanswered questions about HFpEF,” says Judy Hung, MD, FASE, who is a cardiologist with Massachusetts General Hospital and an ASE past president.

“Research shapes the future of medicine, and ASE is honored to be among some of the largest and most innovative biomedical partners contributing to this important initiative,” Dr. Hung added.

ASE’s charitable arm, the ASE Foundation, provides support for initiatives that are not funded by membership dues—such as training scholarships and scientific research. In the last 25 years, the Society and its Foundation have contributed more than $7.3 million to cardiovascular health research.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

About the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health: The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) creates and manages alliances with public and private institutions in support of the mission of the NIH. FNIH works with its partners to accelerate biomedical research and strategies against diseases and health concerns in the United States and across the globe. The FNIH organizes and administers research projects; supports education and training of new researchers; organizes educational events and symposia; and administers a series of funds supporting a wide range of health issues—all efforts focused on areas of unmet need, paving the way toward better patient experiences and outcomes. Established by Congress in 1990, the FNIH is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For additional information about the FNIH, please visit https://fnih.org.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit https://www.nih.gov/.

The latest issue of CASE, ASE’s open access case reports journal, is available, and is packed with educational material to share with trainees and colleagues, including another fantastic article authored by a sonographer.

Editor-in-Chief Vincent Sorrell, MD, FASE, remarked, “The sonographer-led CASE report on the incidental finding of an anonymous coronary artery by Okoli e.t al. was a wonderfully clever update that provided both the sonographer and physician perspectives. When you read the conclusions, you may be struck by the list of items the Medical Doctor has to consider when faced with this diagnosis: Management Dilemmas; Most Desirable imaging options; Most Decisive information to review; Most Dreaded complication risks; Most Definitive treatments; and Most Daunting remaining questions. It was a great reminder that sonographers provide unique perspectives beyond the MD.”

Additionally, this issue includes three cases highlighting the value of Multimodality Imaging in multiple diseases, two additional Congenital Heart Disease cases, and two cases in the Interventional Echocardiography section, including a novel report on echo-guided PIMSRA for residual LVOTO in HCM patients. The editorial from Dr. Sorrell, “Distracted Driving in the Echo Lab,” reflects on the challenges for medical professionals to stay focused amidst our modern daily life full of multi-tasking and disruptions.

We hope this issue of CASE provides new insights and inspires more sonographers to continue authoring and submitting their own case reports. There are still open access fee waivers for sonographers available, sponsored by the Council on Cardiovascular Sonography, waiting to be claimed by you!

Email Debbie Meyer, Director of Publications (JASE, CASE), or Andie Piddington, Deputy Managing Editor (JASE, CASE), with any questions or to request a case-writing mentorship from an ASE sonographer

ASE is hosting a free webinar, Five Years of #ASEchoJC: How You Can Learn from Our Journey and Get Involved, on Thursday, September 29, 5:00 PM ET. The webinar will explain the best practices, tips, and tricks for successfully engaging and getting involved with ASE’s Twitter Journal Club (#ASEchoJC).

Attendees will hear the experiences and perspectives of four speakers from different backgrounds who will discuss how being involved in social media and #ASEchoJC has helped them in education, diffusion of scientific work, and their professional development. This is a great way to learn more and get your questions answered about #ASEchoJC.

After the webinar, make plans to attend the #ASEchoJC on September 29, at 8:00 PM ET.

Webinar attendees and #ASEchoJC participants can earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for their participation in both the webinar and #ASEchoJC.

At the end of this month, the ASE Foundation will host its popular Coffee Day fundraiser from September 25 – October 1. Share a cup of joe with ASEF in honor of National Coffee Day on September 29 by making a donation in the amount you normally spend on a cup of coffee!

After you donate, let us know on social media by tagging @ASE360 with a picture of your coffee, or better yet, a coffee selfie, using the hashtags #ASEFoundation #GaveACup. We want to virtually “cheers” you for your contribution to our 2022 Annual Appeal! We set a goal to raise $5,000.

Interested in making an early pledge to help us wake up other donations? Contact Mary Carmody at MCarmody@ASEcho.org. Remember, every donation helps to fuel Foundation scholarships, research grants, global outreach patient efforts, and more!

The September JASE includes, “Natural History of Mitral Annular Calcification and Calcific Mitral Valve Disease,” from Drs. Willner, Burwash, Beauchesne, Chan, Vulesevic, Ascah, Toutinho, Promislow, Stadnick, Chan, Mesana, and Messika-Zeitoun.

Willner et al. graphic abstract.

Dr. Messika-Zeitoun noted, “Mitral severe annular calcification (MAC) and calcific mitral valve disease (CMVD) are common and progressive diseases, but their natural history remained poorly defined. In this large cohort of patients with paired echocardiograms, we showed progression to severe MAC was common and frequently results in CMVD with higher progression rates observed in women suggesting sex-differences in MAC/CMVD pathophysiology. The challenges posed by MAC for both transcatheter and surgical interventions and the observation that most patients with CMVD are left conservatively managed irrespective of their functional status underline the importance of better understanding the pathophysiology of MAC and CMVD and of developing effective preventive medical therapies.”

Two other clinical investigations also look at echocardiography in mitral valve disease. Additional clinical investigations explore strain echocardiography in aortic stenosis, the value of echocardiography in evaluation of dyspnea, 3D echocardiography assessment of atrioventricular coupling in infants and children, and open-source software used in the visualization and quantification of the unrepaired complete atrioventricular canal valve in children. A Special Article, “Practical Points for Echocardiography in Cardiac Amyloidosis,” was created by the ASE Amyloidosis Task Force as an accompaniment to the recently published multisociety Expert Consensus Recommendations for Multimodality Imaging in Cardiac Amyloidosis. A review article looks at cardiac imaging for diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis, and this issue also includes Dr. Denisa Muraru’s 22nd Annual Feigenbaum Lecture that was given at the 2021 ASE Scientific Sessions.

A brief research communication, editorials, and correspondence round out the issue. The President’s Message from Stephen H. Little, MD, FASE, with guest writer David H. Wiener, MD, FASE, elucidates ASE’s initiative to create living guidelines. The continuing education and meeting calendar outlines a multitude of learning options near and far.

In honor of the founder and first president of ASE, Harvey Feigenbaum, MD, FASE, this lectureship is awarded to a young investigator in recognition of their significant contribution to research in the field and their potential to continue at a high level of achievement.

The deadline to submit nominations for the 2023 Feigenbaum Lecturer is November 30, 2022. The Feigenbaum Lecture is presented in a keynote session room during ASE’s Annual Scientific Sessions in June. This is a prestigious award with a great lineage. Five of ASE’s presidents have been Feigenbaum Award winners. Nominate someone today!

Calling all investigators! Starting September 1, submit your basic or clinical research for a chance to present at the 32nd Annual Echo Hawaii meeting in January 2023!

Submissions are free, and authors chosen to present save $100 on their conference registration. Authors with accepted abstracts will also be entered into a poster competition and have the opportunity to briefly present their key findings for commentary from our internationally renowned faculty. A “Best Poster Prize” will be awarded based on the moderators’ selection.

Visit the this page page to review all the submission details for 2023’s Call for Science on the Big Island! The submission deadline is Friday, October 28, 2022, at 11:59 PM ET.