GoingToMeet

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality in developed countries and emerging economies worldwide. Important risk factors include diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia. Given the growing worldwide epidemic of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, there is a critical need to understand the biological mechanisms that confer this increased risk. The most current research in this area has identified important mechanisms linking dyslipidemia and inflammation to the development of atherosclerosis, the role of adipokines in linking metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular disease, and the role of insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified novel genetic loci that may link metabolic disorders with increased risk. The goals of this meeting are to present the latest data on: (1) genetic studies linking metabolism and cardiovascular risk; (2) new insights into the mechanisms linking insulin resistance with atherosclerosis and cardiac dysfunction; and (3) new insights into the role of altered insulin signaling and lipotoxicity in promoting cardiovascular disease in individuals with diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. The program will catalyze interactions that are likely to lead to new approaches to tackle the translation of fundamental observations to the prevention of cardiovascular disease in these vulnerable populations.