Cardio Pod: Heart of the Matter | Podcast on RSS.com

Cardio Pod: Heart of the Matter

Cardio Pod: Heart of the Matter

by Heart Failure Collaboratory

Season 4

Derisking Phase II Clinical Trials in HF

In this episode, host Christopher O'Connor sits down with Scott D. Solomon, Ellis Unger, Janet Wittes, Michael Felker, Ben Saville, Douglas Mann, and Fady Malik to discuss how to design Phase II clinical trials that generate meaningful data, reduce uncertainty, and improve the chances of success in later-stage studies.

Class Effect considerations in devices

In this episode, Host Dr. Christopher O'Connor and his guests, Dr, Joann Lindenfeld, Dr. Mitchell Psotka, Dr. Minnow Walsh and Dr. William Abraham, discuss class effect considerations in devices.

Social Drivers of Health

In this episode, Christopher O’Connor, MD, sits down with Melvin Echols, MD; JoAnn Lindenfeld, MD; Minnow Walsh, MD; and Wayne Batchelor, MD to explore the role of social drivers of health in heart failure clinical trials. This discussion stems from an initiative of the Heart Failure Collaboratory (HFC) that led to a publication in JACC: Heart Failure titled “Social Drivers of Health in Heart Failure Trials: An Analysis from the Heart Failure Collaboratory.

Best Practices for Site-Based Research (Part 2)

This episode discusses further the challenges of site-based research. What goes into those barriers, obstacles, and opportunities to be a successful site-based researcher.

Models of Success in Site-Based Research

In this episode, Host Dr. Christopher O’Connor is joined by Dr. Melvin Echols, Dr. Anu Lala-Trindade, Dr. Maria Rosa Costanzo, Dr. Lars Kober, and Dr. Norman Stockbridge to explore key models of success in site-based research. The discussion covers operational efficiency, dedicated research infrastructure, sustainable funding and business models, collaborative partnerships, diversity and patient access, and excellence in quality and compliance.

Why is Site-Based Research Broken in the United States?

Hosted by Christopher O’Connor, MD, this episode dives into why site-based research is “broken” — fragmented, inefficient, and weighed down by administrative and regulatory burdens. Many clinical research sites — especially community hospitals and smaller practices — face inconsistent funding, delayed contract approvals, and limited infrastructure for study coordination and data management. Join Dr. O’Connor and expert guests Melvin Echols, MD; Anu Lala-Trindade, MD; Maria Rosa Costanzo, MD; Dalane Kitzman, MD, Marat Fudim, MD; and Sumeet Mitter, MD as they unpack the systemic challenges and explore how to create a more efficient, equitable research ecosystem. #HeartFailureCollaboratory #ClinicalResearch #heartfailure

Representation vs. Diversity in Clinical Trials

In this episode, host Dr. Christopher O’Connor is joined by Dr. Christian Guilliod, Dr. Wayne Batchelor, Dr. Mona Fiuzat, and Dr. Orly Vardeny to discuss the need for clinical trials to reflect the populations most affected by disease, emphasizing culturally and demographically aligned recruitment. They advocate for targeted, site-based strategies and raise concerns about interpreting results from unrepresentative samples.

Should Investigators Have Access to Trial Data?

In this episode, Host Christopher O’Connor, MD, is joined by Robert Califf, MD; Michael Bristow, MD; Scott Solomon, MD; Marvin Konstam, MD; and Mona Fiuzat, PharmD, to discuss who should have access to clinical trial data amid growing collaboration between academia and industry. The conversation highlights the importance of transparency, trust, and responsible data interpretation to maintain scientific integrity.

How Can AI Enhance Recruitment in Clinical Trials?

In this episode, experts Jonathan Cunningham, MD; Ankeet Bhatt, MD; Trejeeve Martyn, MD; Anu Lala-Trindade, MD; Sneha Shah Jain, MD; Elise Shalowitz, MS; and Mitchell Psotka, MD join host Christopher O’Connor, MD to explore AI’s role in transforming clinical trials by reducing workload, improving recruitment, and enhancing protocols. Together, they discuss AI’s use in clinical workflows, continuous evaluation, and inclusive recruitment, stressing the need for healthcare support to maximize success.

Season 3

Crossover designs and event driven trials in devices

In this episode, host Christopher O’Connor and his colleagues discuss device trials and how they differ from drug trials. The conversation focuses on how device trials can be improved and how to advance device development overall.

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