Chris Happé received NRS Travel Grant

Report American Heart Association scientific sessions 2015

Visiting the AHA conference this year has been of great value to my personal development and attributed to the progression of my current research projects. I was able to directly discuss my latest data with experts in the field and gained some new insights and experience which will improve the quality of my research. The main insight gained followed upon a discussion with one of leading experts on BMP-signaling in the pathophysiology of disease. The comments/critique received, mainly pointed at possible caveats in the BMP-pathway story, will help me to improve quality of the eventual manuscript.  The experience gained and comments received on the presentation of my work at the AHA 2015 has helped me to tweak my story so I can relay it in a better way next time.

Additionally, a lot of the latest developments in pulmonary hypertension, with an emphasis on genetics, were presented which I am now able to relay to our research group in Amsterdam. Most importantly, an update of the BRIDGE study was presented (investigating genetic variation of idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension) as well as, for the first time, significant data showing reduced survival for BMPR2 deficient PAH-patients. The daily poster sessions were a great source of inspiration and opportunity to learn about other techniques which I can implement in my current research.  Lastly, the conference offered great network events which encouraged discussing possible future collaborations and-or career opportunities.

Chris Happé, VU University Medical Center, Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine