Scientific Research
The Cardiac Sciences Department has developed a distinctive research track centered on basic cardiac sciences and grounded in scientific research. Its focus is to promote innovation, understand heart disease from a cellular and molecular perspective, and link scientific discoveries to clinical applications.
The Basic Cardiac Sciences Unit works to develop multidisciplinary research in the fields of stem cells, hereditary and genetic heart disease, tissue engineering, the mechanisms of disease onset and progression, and modern therapeutic strategies. It does so by applying advanced technologies and strengthening research collaboration, in support of translational research that contributes to improving diagnosis and treatment and enhancing patient care.
The Department has also been joined by a select group of researchers and academics holding doctorates in the fields of medical and biological research from Imperial College London. They enrich the academic and research environment and strengthen the Department’s presence in the medical and research community, both locally and globally.
The Department is witnessing growing research activity and participation in international research and studies. Through these, its physicians and researchers have contributed to enriching scientific knowledge and developing a range of fields in cardiac sciences. Among the most notable of these contributions are:

•    National and Gulf Countries studies:
1. The Saudi Project for Assessment of Coronary Events (SPACE) registry.
2. Gulf Acute Heart Failure Registry (Gulf CARE).
3. Gulf Registry of Acute Cardiac Events.
4. The Heart Ejection Assessment Registry Trial in Saudi Arabia (HEARTS).
5. The 3rd Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE-3Ps).
6. The Saudi Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (STARS).
7. Multi-center National Registry in the Middle East to Study the Prevalence, Management, Genetic Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia in 6 Arabian Gulf Countries.
8. The Second Heart Function Assessment Registry Trial In The Emergency Department In Saudi Arabia (HEARTS-2 ED).
9. The Second Heart Function Assessment Registry Trial No Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Saudi Arabia (HEARTS-2 DCM).

•    International Research Collaboration:
1. PURE (The Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological Study), is a prospective cohort study that will track changing life styles, risk factors and chronic diseases.
2. INTER-CHF An international registry to study the current causes, treatment, barriers to care, and outcome of heart failure in Africa, Asia and South America.
3. Global Simplicity Registry (GSR).
4. COMPLETE A randomized, comparative effectiveness study of complete versus culprit-only revascularization strategies to treat multi-vessel disease after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
5. THEMIS A Multinational, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effect of Ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily on the Incidence of Cardiovascular Death, Myocardial Infarction or Stroke in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
6. EURObservational Research Program Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) STEMI Pilot Registry of ACCA and EAPCI.
7. IVVE A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Influenza Vaccine To Prevent Adverse Vascular Events.
8. Global Congestive Heart Failure (G‐CHF): A global registry to study the demographics, socioeconomic and clinical factors, etiologies, pathophysiology, management, barriers to care, and outcomes of heart failure patients.
9. TOURACO Study: Long-term follow-up and management patterns of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Middle East and Africa.

•    National and Gulf Countries Studies:
1. National Atrial Fibrillation Survey.
2. The Gulf Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Registry.
3. The Gulf Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Registry.
4. Gulf AF cryoablation registry.

•    International Research Collaboration:
1. Investigation of a novel algorithm for synchronized left-ventricular pacing and ambulatory optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy: results of the adaptive CRT trial.
2. REFINE-ICD Trial
3. Effect of long-detection interval vs standard-detection interval for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators on antitachycardia pacing and shock delivery: the ADVANCE III randomized clinical trial.
4. AdaptResponse: Prospective Randomized Study of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with Preferential LV-Only Pacing.
5. Quadripolar Lead for the Management of Heart Failure Patients in the Middle East (QUADRA ME Trial).
6. RIVER Registry.