National Collaborative Research Programme on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases

Workshops / Conferences

Proceedings of the 1st Workshop to Develop an MRC National Collaborative Research Programme in Cardiovascular and  Metabolic  Disease

Background and Participants
The new strategic plan of the MRC has identified a need for a National Collaborative Research Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease in South Africa. The 1st national workshop to develop the National Collaborative Research Programme (NCRP) on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease held on 28 October 2006 was attended by the following participants representing the academic sector, professional organisations, and government:

1. Julia Aalbers (Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa)
2. Debbie Bradshaw (Medical Research Council)
3. Andries Brink (Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa)
4. Paul Brink (University of Stellenbosch)
5. Patrick Commerford (University of Cape Town)
6. Valerie Corfield (University of Stellenbosch)
7. Faadiel Essop (University of Cape Town)
8. Bernard Gersh (Mayo Clinic, USA)
9. Vicki Lambert (University of Cape Town)
10. Dinky Levitt (University of Cape Town)
11. Amanda Lochner (University of Stellenbosch)
12. David Marais (University of Cape Town)
13. Tshimbi Mathivha (University of Pretoria)
14. Bongani Mayosi – Convenor (University of Cape Town)
15. Anthony MBewu (Medical Research Council)
16. DP Naidoo (University of Kwa Zulu Natal)
17. Vuyisile Nkomo (Mayo Clinic, USA)
18. Gavin Norton (University of the Witwatersrand)
19. Mpiko Ntsekhe (University of Cape Town)
20. Siyabulela Ntutela (Department of Science and Technology)
21. Tahir Pillay (University of Cape Town)
22. Lionel Opie (University of Cape Town)
23. Thandi Puoane (University of the Western Cape)
24. Peter Schwartz (University of Padua, Italy)
25. Sibusiso Sifunda (Medical Research Council)
26. Len Steingo (South African Heart Association)
27. Nelia Steyn (Medical Research Council)
28. Angela Woodiwiss (University of the Witwatersrand)

Summary of the talks
The morning sessions were addressed by a number of speakers on the rationalé and priorities for the NCRP on cardiovascular and metabolic disease (programme attached – talks available from the speakers). In the afternoon, the participants discussed the direction and content of the NCRP in small groups.

Professor Anthony MBewu, President of the MRC, set the stage by pointing out that cardiovascular and metabolic disease is the second most important cause of death in South Africa. He emphasized that national collaboration among researchers in cardiovascular and metabolic disease was required to combat heart disease, diabetes, and stroke in South Africa. Professor Lionel Opie highlighted the need for the long-term funding of salaries of full-time researchers as a pre-requisite for success of the research enterprise in South Africa.

He summarized the metabolic origins of cardiovascular disease, and highlighted the essential indivisibility of ‘Cardiovascular’ Disease and ‘Metabolic’ Disease. Professor Peter Schwartz called on the delegates to embrace the powerful tools of molecular science in order to position South African science on the leading edge of innovation in medicine.

The group discussion on the priorities for the NCRP was preceded by excellent talks delivered by Debbie Bradshaw (Burden of cardiovascular disease in South Africa), Vuyisile Nkomo (Valvular heart disease – the forgotten problem of heart disease research in the world), and Tahir Pillay (Priorities for research in metabolic medicine in South Africa – a personal view). Bernard Gersh, in the final talk, made a call for the formation of South Africa’s own equivalent of the Framingham Heart Study to address the lack of comprehensive prospective data on the epidemiology of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and to serve as a substrate for high-quality laboratory, clinical, and epidemiological studies.  

Summary of the group sessions
Group A discussed the appropriate process or strategy for the development of the NCRP. It was proposed that a small Steering Committee under the chairmanship of Niresh Bhagwandin (MRC) is formed. The other nominees of the Steering Committee were Bongani Mayosi, Gavin Norton, Ayesha Motala, and a person with a public health background. The Steering Committee will develop a Concept Paper for the NCRP, solicit seed funding for the feasibility study and development of the NCRP, conduct an audit of the research activity in cardiovascular and metabolic disease in South Africa, and convene a 2nd Workshop in January 2007 to develop a strategic plan for the NCRP.

Group B discussed the top five strategic priorities for cardiovascular research in South Africa. These priorities fell into five areas: (i) cardiovascular epidemiology, (ii) translational molecular cardiology, (iii) technological advances in cardiovascular diagnosis and phenotyping, (iv) priority cardiovascular diseases of poverty, and (v) research capacity development.

Group C focused on the top five priorities in metabolic disease research. These were similarly categorized into (i) epidemiological studies of obesity and its determinants, (ii) mechanistic and laboratory studies of obesity and HIV infection, and (iii) translational and interventional studies.

Conclusion
There was unanimous support for the formation of the MRC NCRP on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease. This national initiative will be guided by the principle that ‘the generation and application of high-quality knowledge is vital to the optimal performance of health systems and the socio-economic development of any country’ (MBewu quoted by Opie).

The following ‘road map’ for the new MRC NCRP on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease was adopted:

Road map for the NCRP on Cardiovascular and Metabolic disease