CardioScape mapping the cardiovascular funding landscape in Europe.

Aims: The burden of cardiovascular disease is increasing worldwide, which has to be reflected by cardiovascular (CV) research in Europe. CardioScape, a FP7 funded project initiated by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), identified where CV research is performed, how it is funded and by whom. It could be transformed into an on-line and up-to-date resource of great relevance for researchers, funding bodies and policymakers and could be a role model for mapping CV research funding in Europe and beyond. Methods and results: Relevant funding bodies in 28 European Union (EU) countries were identified by a multistep process involving experts in each country. Projects above a funding threshold of 100 k€ during the period 2010-2012 were included using a standard questionnaire. Results were classified by experts and an adaptive text analysis software to a CV-research taxonomy, integrating existing schemes from ESC journals and congresses. An on-line query portal was set up to allow different users to interrogate the database according to their specific viewpoints. Conclusion: CV-research funding varies strongly between different nations with the EU providing 37% of total available project funding and clear geographical gradients exist. Data allow in depth comparison of funding for different research areas and led to a number of recommendations by the consortium. CardioScape can support CV research by aiding researchers, funding agencies and policy makers in their strategic decisions thus improving research quality if CardioScape strategy and technology becomes the basis of a continuously updated and expanded European wide publicly accessible database.

The generation gap in modern surgery: a new era in general surgery.

General surgery remains one of the most respected residencies available to medical students today. At the same time, the number of medical school graduates applying for general surgery residencies continues to decline. Despite this decline, we still search for those individuals exhibiting qualities shared by general surgeons who excel. Although the field of general surgery is constantly evolving, these qualities remain the same. While intellect and good technical skills are essential, they alone do not ensure success as a surgery resident. Confidence, stamina, tenacity, and patience are imperative. Good leadership, motivational, and decision-making skills are also vital characteristics. Finally, the importance of dedication to patient care cannot be overstated. Because disease, injury, and pain are not scheduled events, general surgery residents regularly spend long hours, day and night, caring for and worrying about their patients. To ensure that we continue to add a sufficient number of general surgery residents each year without lowering our standards, those of us in general surgery must attempt to determine why fewer medical school graduates are applying for general surgery residencies. Then we must find ways in which we can improve the residency programs and, probably more important, emphasize to students the things about this field that led us to devote our lives to its practice.