Introduction

Abstract

The Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine (ICSM) is a multidepartmental Centre of Excellence at the University of Hong Kong. To unite scientists and clinicians in the fight against cardiovascular disease and to promote integration and collaboration among cardiovascular researchers in Hong Kong and the surrounding region, the theme of our Third Annual Scientific Meeting was the ‘Bridging of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine’. The involvement in the scientific meetings of the ICSM of cardiovascular researchers and practitioners from Hong Kong and throughout the region reflects the importance that we all attribute to the fight against cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is already the number one killer in this region. Only by combining our efforts and sharing our knowledge, through the medium of meetings such as this, can we reverse the upward trend in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity and promote a healthy society and a good quality of life in our community. It is our great hope that through this scientific meeting we may have come a little closer to achieving those aims.