A new study published in Nature reveals the role of the interaction between the circadian transcription factor BMAL1 and hypoxia-inducible factor 2α in circadian-dependent cardioprotection after ischaemia–reperfusion injury, and highlights the potential of chronotherapeutic approaches for ischaemic heart disease.

Digital communication increasingly shapes early-career cardiology. Social media offers powerful tools for education, networking and career growth, but also poses challenges such as misinformation and lack of professionalism. In this Comment article, we outline practical strategies for effectively navigating social media in the early stages of a cardiology career.

Sotatercept, an activin-signalling inhibitor, is a promising add-on treatment for patients with advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension and a high risk of death, according to data from the ZENITH trial.

In patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, pulsed field ablation is non-inferior to cryoballoon ablation for preventing the recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia, according to findings from the SINGLE SHOT CHAMPION trial.

Two clinical trials presented at the ACC.25 describe the expanding indications for the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Findings from the BHF PROTECT-TAVI trial indicate that the routine use of cerebral embolic protection devices during transcatheter aortic valve implantation does not decrease the incidence of stroke within 72 h after the intervention.

Researchers have engineered a millimetre-scale, bioresorbable, optoelectronic system that can be minimally invasively implanted into the heart and wirelessly controlled by a light source on the surface of the skin to provide temporary cardiac pacing.

Mia Manojlovic and Melaku Taye Amogne highlight the 1986 study that unravelled the primary structure of apolipoprotein B100 and laid a foundation for subsequent studies on the role of this apolipoprotein.

Hooi Min Lim describes how the Bogalusa Heart Study emphasized the importance of primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease and profoundly influenced subsequent cardiovascular research on children and adolescents.

Mariella Huaman and Carlos Toro-Huamanchumo discuss the 2013 study that provided crucial insights into the cardiac structural changes associated with obesity and challenged previously established paradigms.

Heart transplantation remains the optimal long-term treatment for appropriate patients with advanced heart failure. However, the donor heart shortage is a limiting factor, and the risk profile of transplant candidates is worsening. In this landscape, the utility of conventional cold static storage for donor hearts is increasingly limited. In this Clinical Outlook, we discuss new methods of donor heart

A new study reports the presence of tunnelling nanotube-like structures in mouse embryonic hearts that have a crucial role in facilitating long-distance cell–cell communication during early heart morphogenesis.

Countries globally face major challenges in the early diagnosis and treatment of hypercholesterolaemia and cardiovascular disease, with numerous health inequities by geography and income. Perseverance, hard work, integrity and commitment can transform aspiration into reality. My PCSK9 story, from the discovery of its implication in familial hypercholesterolemia to the development of life-saving drugs

A study published in Nature has identified two transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that mediate extracellular-to-intracellular ceramide signalling and shows that blocking these receptors alleviates the atherosclerosis that is induced by a high-fat diet or aggravated by chronic kidney disease in mice.

Epigenetic editing holds great promise for the treatment of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease. However, realizing this potential requires more than developing robust technology and demands a steadfast focus on patient needs and inclusion, to ensure that access to epigenetic medicine will be equitable and will benefit diverse populations worldwide.

Correction to: Nature Reviews Cardiology https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-025-01123-4, published online 21 January 2025.

Tissue engineered heart muscle implanted on to the epicardium can structurally and functionally remuscularize the failing hearts of rhesus macaques, with no major adverse effects; a clinical trial of this approach is now underway in patients with heart failure.

Elizabeth Figueroa-Juárez describes the study that demonstrated that fibroblasts derived from endothelial cells through endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition contribute to cardiac fibrosis.

A new study shows that activation of vagal sensory neurons expressing the oxytocin receptor in the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tissues of mice mediates cardiometabolic changes resembling those from a hibernation-like, hypometabolic state.

A new study shows how obesity can disrupt a cholesterol metabolism in a particular subset of metabolically protective regulatory T cells in visceral adipose tissue.

New research shows how the social determinants of cardiovascular health vary locally within cities. Artificial intelligence makes it possible to quantify the relative importance of these social determinants at a hyper-local level, which can inform interventions. To realize these opportunities, new partnership models are needed that pay special attention to data quality and governance.

In this Tools of the Trade article, Lyall discusses the use of traction force microscopy to assess the contractile function of individual cardiomyocytes.

Anju Loveridge discusses the Framingham Heart Study report that described the link between diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease as well as sex-related differences in cardiovascular disease.

In this Tools of the Trade article, Francesca Vacante and Andrew Baker describe a CRISPR-based approach to target the regulatory regions of non-coding RNAs.

In this Tools of the Trade article, Birch describes how extracellular vesicles can be engineered to deliver therapeutic microRNAs for the treatment of ischaemic stroke.

Sasha Forbes discusses the study that demonstrated that the electrical activity of the heart could be regulated with light with the use of optogenetics.

Joseph Carr highlights the study that described the rapid component of the delayed-rectifier potassium current and laid the groundwork for later studies into the fundamental biophysics of ion channels.

Two studies presented at AHA 2024 Scientific Sessions describe the efficacy and safety of left atrial appendage closure after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and the 5-year outcomes of the largest randomized left atrial appendage closure trial to date comparing the safety and efficacy of two devices.

Population studies have reported that proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) increase cardiovascular mortality, at least in part owing to an increased propensity for life-threatening arrhythmias, but these findings have largely been ignored. We propose a series of recommendations for prescribers of PPIs to ensure a balance of the benefits against the potential arrhythmic risks.