Mission

The Society for South Asian Heart Research (SAHR) is dedicated to promoting, collaborating, and communicating fundamental, translational, clinical, and population-based cardiovascular research. This work is focused on the unique cardiovascular health challenges faced by South Asian (SA) populations. SAHR strives to foster collaboration among SA researchers, scientists, clinicians, and the wider public, creating a community dedicated to improving cardiovascular health and outcomes for South Asians globally.

Recognizing the disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) within the SA community, SAHR seeks to elevate awareness of these health disparities and promote research and strategies that can directly address these challenges. Specifically, the society will:

1. Conduct Seminars and Conferences: Organize periodic seminars and annual meetings that feature traditional and emerging research areas related to cardiovascular disease, fostering dialogue among researchers, clinicians, and policymakers.

2. Communication and Outreach: Serve as a hub for disseminating research, events, opportunities, and accomplishments both within SAHR and the broader global community to improve collective knowledge and understanding.

3. Mentorship and Support: Provide a structured platform for mentoring researchers at various career stages, from early-career scientists to established experts, ensuring the development of future leaders in cardiovascular research.

4. Fostering Collaborations: Develop cooperative relationships with like-minded research groups, public health organizations, and governmental agencies to drive innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions to CVD challenges.

5. Building a Global Reputation: Strengthen the national and international reputation of SAHR, positioning it as the premier organization for SA cardiovascular research and advocacy.

Vision

SAHR envisions itself as the ultimate, trusted space for advancing South Asian cardiovascular research. The organization aspires to mitigate the high burden of cardiovascular disorders disproportionately affecting the South Asian population, particularly given the elevated risk factors such as genetic predisposition, cultural lifestyle factors, and socioeconomic conditions.

SAHR aims to bridge the gap between research and practice by promoting findings that lead to improved health outcomes for the SA population. By fostering global partnerships and uniting a diverse community of experts, SAHR will contribute to reducing the high rates of CVD in the SA diaspora and within South Asia itself.

Purpose

South Asians represent over 25% of the world’s population and approximately 5 million live in developed countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. However, the SA population faces a significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), with conditions often manifesting at an earlier age and with higher morbidity and mortality rates compared to other ethnic groups. Factors such as increased insulin resistance, central obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia contribute to this elevated risk.

There is an urgent need to:

• Raise Awareness: Education and outreach are critical in informing both healthcare providers and the public about the unique cardiovascular risks faced by South Asians. The high prevalence of risk factors such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and sedentary lifestyles in SA populations requires targeted awareness campaigns.

• Promote Prevention: Developing culturally tailored prevention strategies, including promoting heart-healthy diets, physical activity, and stress management, is essential to preventing CVD in the SA community.

• Improve Healthcare Access: Access to timely and effective medical interventions, coupled with preventative care, can reduce CVD-related morbidity and mortality. SAHR will work towards ensuring that these populations receive appropriate and culturally sensitive care.

• Facilitate Research Collaboration: SAHR will serve as a critical forum for cardiovascular researchers to share insights and findings. This collaboration will enhance the collective understanding of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors contributing to CVD risk in South Asians.

• Drive Research Innovation: Encouraging research that focuses on SA-specific genetic predispositions, dietary influences, and social determinants of health will contribute to more effective interventions and treatments.

Through these efforts, SAHR will enable the South Asian Heart Research community to organize and address the distinct cardiovascular challenges faced by South Asians. By fostering communication, research collaboration, and policy advocacy, SAHR will ensure that the cardiovascular health needs of South Asians are understood and prioritized on both national and international health agendas.