Dear Colleagues,

I am honored to serve as the new director of the Michigan Biology of Cardiovascular Aging (M-BoCA) Center. Since its inception in 2017, Dr. Daniel Goldstein’s commitment, diligence, and significant vision have turned this center into an effective hub for sharing ideas, scientific conversations, and partnerships between different but complementary fields focused on studying cardiac aging. 

The M-BoCA multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Aging program is strategically architected to serve as an interdisciplinary research hub, amalgamating a diverse array of heterogeneous and synergistic scientific proficiencies. Our primary objective is to advance the understanding of the molecular, cellular, and systemic mechanisms through which aging modulates cardiovascular physiology and contributes to associated pathologies. The M-BoCA program continues to act as a catalyst for fostering synergistic research collaborations among its members and participants. The program will serve as a fertile ground for the convergence of basic scientists, clinicians, and translational investigators, facilitating the exchange of ideas and methodologies. 

Incorporated within the program's framework are essential educational and training dimensions. These include implementing an enhanced mentorship model designed to cultivate trainees' academic and research skills at various career stages. Additionally, the program is committed to organizing specialized educational forums that serve as platforms for disseminating and critically evaluating emerging research in the field of cardiovascular aging. The center will also make core equipment available for members and investigators in the field of cardiovascular aging.

To further catalyze innovative research endeavors, the M-BoCA program continues to allocate pilot funding, with a particular emphasis on supporting early-career faculty who are pioneering new investigative trajectories in the domain of cardiovascular aging.

Ahmed Abdel-Latif, MD, PhD
Director of M-BoCA