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Houston, Texas has a rich history of cardiovascular research and medical advancements. Over the years, several prominent institutions, renowned researchers, and groundbreaking discoveries have contributed to the city's status as a major hub for cardiovascular research. Among these notable faculty are Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, a cardiovascular surgeon and researcher and Dr. Mark L. Entman, a recognized expert in cardiovascular sciences. 

Timeline of Accomplishments

1940s

• Baylor University College of Medicine moves from Dallas to Houston and becomes a member of the TMC in 1943. 
• In 1948, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey accepts the chairship of the Department of Surgery at ���6�Ͽ������. 

1950s

• In 1951, Dr. Denton Cooley joins the faculty of ���6�Ͽ������.
• Dr. Michael E. DeBakey performs first successful carotid endarterectomy in 1953, establishing the field of surgery for strokes.
• Drs. Denton Cooley and Dan McNamara start the Heart Center at Texas Children’s Hospital in 1954. 
• Denton Cooley, M.D. performs first open-heart operation in 1956.

1960s

• The Texas Heart Institute is established in 1962 by Dr. Denton Cooley.
• Michael E. DeBakey, MD. performs first successful aortocoronary- artery bypass with autogenous vein graft at Methodist Hospital in 1964. 
• Dr. Denton Cooley performs the first successful human heart transplant in the United States in 1968. 

1970s

• Dr. Mark L. Entman is recruited to ���6�Ͽ������ as an assistant professor. 
• First School of Perfusion Technology established at Texas Heart Institute in the US in 1971. It remains one of the few accredited programs of its kind in the country. 
• Cardiovascular Surgery Research (CVSR) Laboratories established in 1972 to advance the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
• First in-world intra-abdominal left ventricular assist device (ALVAD) performed by Dr. John C. Norman in 1976. 
• NIH funded Demonstration Center of the Heart and Vessel Diseases established at ���6�Ͽ������ in 1976 under the leadership of Dr. Mark L. Entman. The Center later became known as the DeBakey Heart Center in 1985. 
• First T32 Cardiovascular Sciences Training Grant awarded to Julius C. Allen, PhD at ���6�Ͽ������ in 1979. The training program is currently funded by NIH. 

1980s

• In 1981, the NHLBI awards Antonio Gotto, M.D. with a P60 grant for a Specialized Center of Research in Atherosclerosis to study lipoprotein structure and metabolism.
• The NHLBI awards Antonio Gotto, M.D. a SCOR grant for his work titled “A/S SCOR Structure and Metabolism of Plasma Lipoproteins” in 1983. The work was funded for a decade.
• Texas Children’s Hospital establishes the Heart Transplant Program in 1984. 
• Dr. O.H. "Bud" Frazier develops the AbioCor artificial heart in 1985.
• The American Heart Association establishes the Bugher Centers for Training in Molecular Biology of the Cardiovascular system. ���6�Ͽ������ is one of six Centers funded from 1986-1996.

1990s

• Dr. Mark L. Entman awarded a program project grant from the NHLBI for his work titled “Role of Inflammation in Early Myocardial Ischemia” in 1991.
• The Cardiovascular Sciences Graduate Program is founded by Mark L. Entman, M.D. and Julius C. Allen, Ph.D. in 1992. Twenty-two students were enrolled during the inaugural year and the first student graduated in 2000.
• Christie Ballantyne, M.D. is first to report the association of levels of adhesion molecules with severe dyslipidemia, transplant rejection, and cardiovascular events in 1996. 
• Dr. Mark L. Entman becomes the Scientific Director at the DeBakey Heart Center in 1997.
• The Cardiovascular Genetics Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital is founded by Dr. John Belmont in 1997. 

2000s

• Dr. Christie Ballantyne is one of the earliest investigators to publish one of the first papers suggesting that LpPLA2 would not be a successful target of therapy for atherosclerosis in 2000.
• The Adult Congenital Heart (ACH) Program is created at Texas Children’s Hospital in 2004.  
• In 2006, under the leadership of James F. Martin, M.D., Ph.D.; the Martin laboratory developed the first mouse model of Pitx2 (paired-like heomodomain 2).

2010s

• Dr. James F. Martin’s laboratory reports that Pitx2 inhibits atrial arrhythmias using a mouse model in 2010. The works are published in the PNAS journal.
• In 2010, the laboratory led by Miguel A. Cruz, Ph.D. is first in linking high levels of extracellular hemoglobin to thrombosis at a high shear stress.
• Drs. William Cohn and O.H. "Bud" Frazier develop and implant a continuous-flow total heart replacement device (HeartMate II LVAD) in patient with end-stage heart failure in 2011.
• Texas Children’s Hospital ranked #1 in the nation for cardiology and heart surgery care by US News and World Reports in 2016. The ranking stands current as of 2023.
• The Dr. Mark L. Entman Endowment is awarded to ���6�Ͽ������ by the Medallion Foundation in 2016. Dr. Entman announced as Chairman of the Board for the Foundation. 
• Texas Children’s Hospital announces its Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Program in 2017. 
• BCM faculty member Na Li, Ph.D. is the first to demonstrate a causal link between the NLRP3 inflammasome and the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation in 2018. 
• In 2019, Texas Children’s Hospital announces Dr. Peter Ermis and Dr. Edward Hickey as new leaders of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Program.