Young@Heart: empowering the next generation of cardiovascular researchers

In recognition of the increasing health burden of cardiovascular disease, the Dutch CardioVascular Alliance (DCVA) was founded with the ambition to lower the cardiovascular disease burden by 25% in 2030. To achieve this, the DCVA is a platform for all stakeholders in the cardiovascular field to align policies, agendas and research. An important goal of the DCVA is to guide and encourage young researchers at an early stage of their careers in order to help them overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Young@Heart is part of the DCVA that supports the young cardiovascular research community. This article illustrates the challenges and opportunities encountered by young cardiovascular researchers in the Netherlands and highlights Young@Heart’s vision to benefit from these opportunities and optimise collaborations to contribute to lowering the cardiovascular disease burden together as soon as possible. Dutch contribution to the field Dutch cardiovascular alliance (DCVA) is a platform that combines stakeholders in the cardiovascular field with the goal to lower cardiovascular disease burden by 25% in 2030. Young@Heart is part of the talent pillar of DCVA and represents young researchers in the Netherlands. Young@Heart aims to provide career perspectives in academic, corporate and non-governmental settings for talented basic and clinical scientists. By providing workshops, national and international networking and funding opportunities, Young@Heart hopes to ensure a bright future for cardiovascular research in the Netherlands