A four-year experience designed for individuals interested in embarking upon basic and translational research careers and ultimately establishing independent biomedical research programs. As with all trainees in cardiovascular disease, during their first two years Fellows in this pathway acquire the fundamental clinical knowledge-base and procedural skills to function as outstanding consultative cardiovascular specialists and educators. Moreover, in concert with Divisional faculty members, they begin to formulate a program of laboratory-based investigation that they will pursue during the research component of their fellowship.

At the end of the third year in this Pathway, trainees will have completed our ACGME-accredited training program in Cardiovascular Disease and will be eligible to sit for the ABIM Certifying Examination. During the latter phase of training, the Fellow will seek answers to fundamental questions in cardiovascular biology and disease, ideally with bench-to-bedside applications.

The research project will be supplemented, depending upon the Fellow's background, with relevant course-work in areas such as molecular and cell biology, immunology, genetics and biomedical ethics. As part of the training for an investigative career, Fellows in this pathway are expected to prepare and submit grants to funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and/or American Heart Association.