March 2023: Professor Judy de Haan, new President of the Australian Atherosclerosis Society

I feel so honoured to be your President for 2023 and beyond!

At the recent AAS AGM I witnessed the depth and breadth of the CV research that our members are undertaking. It was clear to me that CV research is in good hands for the foreseeable future! Yet I know that without adequate people support, this research tap will turn off. This continued lack of funding for CV research impacts all of us at all levels. In particular, our early to mid-career researchers are leaving basic research at unprecedented rates. For others, job insecurity is high, resulting in a leaking of talent away from academia. Therefore, one of my aims for our society in 2023, is to lend our collective voices to CV advocacy to secure much needed funding.

A further aim of mine is to strengthen the ties between our fundamental researchers and our clinician-scientists. Our members cover the entire spectrum of CV research, from fundamental discoveries and translation, through to clinical research, implementation and patient management. A closer association across these areas will strengthen opportunities for further funding for our sector. I see the way forward, not through silos, but rather through collaborative efforts. So, I urge you to engage with one another, look for opportunities to work together, think creatively, and use this forum to bridge those silos.