• Provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and blood; sleep disorders; and blood resources management.

• Plans, conducts, fosters, and supports an integrated and coordinated program of basic research, clinical investigations and trials, observational studies, demonstration and education projects related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, blood diseases, and sleep disorders conducted in its own laboratories and by scientific institutions and individuals supported by research grants and contracts.
• Plans and directs research in development, trial, and evaluation of interventions and devices related to prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients suffering from such diseases and disorders.
• Conducts research on clinical use of blood and all aspects of the management of blood resources.
• Supports research training and career development of new and established researchers in fundamental sciences and clinical disciplines to enable them to conduct basic and clinical research related to heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; sleep disorders; and blood resources through individual and institutional research training awards and career development awards.
• Coordinates with other research institutes and all Federal health programs relevant activities in the above areas, including the related causes of stroke.
• Conducts educational activities, including development and dissemination of materials for health professionals and the public in the above areas, with emphasis on prevention.
• Maintains continuing relationships with institutions and professional associations, and with international, national, state, and local officials as well as voluntary agencies and organizations working in the above areas.

July 7, 1948--The services of Dr. Paul Dudley White were secured under section 4b of the Heart Act "to be Executive Director of the National Advisory Heart Council and Chief Medical Advisor to the National Heart Institute."

August 1, 1948--Surgeon General Leonard A. Scheele, by General Circular No. 36, Organization Order No. 14, established NHI as one of the National Institutes of Health to administer functions of heart research, training, and administration set forth in the National Heart Act. Intramural research projects in cardiovascular diseases and gerontology conducted elsewhere in NIH were transferred to NHI. The director of NHI was designated as the focal point of leadership and coordination for the total heart program of PHS.

August 29, 1948--Surgeon General Scheele announced the names of the 16 members appointed to the first National Advisory Heart Council.

September 8, 1948--The first meeting of the National Advisory Heart Council was held.

January 1949--Cooperative research units were established at the University of California, University of Minnesota, Tulane University, and Massachusetts General Hospital, jointly financed by the institutions and NIH, pending completion of NHI's own research organization and the availability of further research facilities.

July 1, 1949--A comprehensive plan for NHI's intramural research program was instituted, organized on three general research levels, with three laboratory sections, five laboratory-clinical sections, and four clinical sections.

The Heart Disease Epidemiology Study at Framingham, Mass., was transferred from the Bureau of State Services, PHS, to NHI.

January 18-20, 1950--The first National Conference on Cardiovascular Diseases, sponsored by NHI and the American Heart Association, was held in Washington, D.C.

July 6, 1953--The first patient was admitted to the Clinical Center for heart disease research.

July 1, 1957--The first members of NHI's Board of Scientific Counselors began their terms. It was established in 1956 "to provide advice on matters of general policy, particularly from a long-range viewpoint, as they relate to the intramural research program."

February 19, 1959--A report to the Nation was presented by the American Heart Association and NHI on "A Decade of Progress Against Cardiovascular Disease," at Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.

April 21, 1961--The President's Conference on Heart Disease and Cancer, whose participants on March 15 were requested by President John F. Kennedy to assist "in charting the Government's further role in a National attack" on these diseases, convened at the White House and submitted its report.

December 30, 1963--President Lyndon B. Johnson approved a joint resolution, unanimously passed by the Congress, to provide for designating the month of February in each year as "American Heart Month."

November 22-24, 1964--The Second National Conference on Cardiovascular Diseases was held at Washington, D.C., under cosponsorship of the American Heart Association, NHI and Heart Disease Control Program of PHS, to appraise developments since the first conference in 1950 and to determine needs and opportunities for continued and accelerated progress against heart and blood vessel diseases.

December 9, 1964--The President's Commission on Heart Disease, Cancer and Stroke, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, March 7, 1964, to "recommend steps that can be taken to reduce the burden and incidence of these diseases," submitted its report.

October 16, 1968--A Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Dr. Marshall W. Nirenberg, chief of NHI's Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics, for discovering the key to deciphering the genetic code. Dr. Nirenberg was the first NIH Nobel laureate and the first Federal employee to receive a Nobel Prize.

October 26, 1968--NHI received the National Hemophilia Foundation's Research and Scientific Achievement Award for its "medical leadership ... tremendous stimulation and support of research activities directly related to the study and treatment of hemophilia."

November 14, 1968--The 20th anniversary of NHI was commemorated at the White House, with President Johnson and a notable array of prominent figures associated with NHI, past and resent, participating.

August 12, 1969--Major provisions of NHI reorganization plan established five program branches in extramural programs (arteriosclerotic disease, cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, hypertension and kidney diseases, and thrombosis and hemorrhagic diseases); a Therapeutic Evaluations Branch and an Epidemiology Branch under the associate director for clinical applications; and three offices in the Office of the Director (heart information, program planning, and administrative management).

November 10, 1969--National Heart Institute was renamed the National Heart and Lung Institute, reflecting expansion of functions.

February 18, 1971--In his Health Message to the Congress, the President identified sickle cell anemia as a high-priority disease target and called for increased Federal expenditures. Subsequently, the DHEW assistant secretary for health and scientific affairs, assigned the lead-agencies responsibilities for coordinating a National Sickle Cell Disease Program to NIH and NHLI.

March 24, 1972--President Nixon named Dr. John S. Millis to head a 20-member panel "to determine why heart disease is so prevalent and so menacing and what can be done about it."

March 27-31, 1972--First meeting of U.S.-U.S.S.R. Joint Committee for Health Cooperation was held to develop and plan an approach to the health exchange program in several specific areas, including the cardiovascular field. The NHLI director is a member of the committee.

May 23, 1972--A 5-year agreement for a Cooperative Health Program was signed by W. P. Rogers, U.S. secretary of state, and B. V. Petrovsky, U.S.S.R. minister of health. The agreement calls for cooperative studies in pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis; management of ischemic heart disease; myocardial metabolism; congenital heart disease; sudden death; and blood transfusions, blood components, and the prevention of hepatitis.

June 12, 1972--HEW Secretary Richardson approved a nationwide program of hypertension information and education. The secretary appointed the Hypertension Information and Education Advisory Committee, chaired by the director, NIH; and the Interagency Working Group, chaired by the director, NHLI, to implement the national effort. A High Blood Pressure Information Center was established within the NHLI Office of Information to collect and disseminate public and professional information about this disease.

July 1972--The NHLBI launched the National High Blood Pressure Education Program.

July 14, 1972--HEW Secretary Richardson approved a reorganization of NHLI, elevating the institute to bureau status within NIH, with seven division-level components: Office of Director, Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases, Division of Lung Diseases, Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, Division of Intramural Research, Division of Technological Applications, and Division of Extramural Affairs.

July 24, 1973--The 5-volume National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung and Blood Program was transmitted to Congress. The comprehensive, 5-year plan of attack against heart, blood vessel, lung and blood diseases and research and management of blood resources was developed by the director, NHLI, with the advice of the National Heart and Lung Advisory Council, in accordance with a provision of the National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung and Blood Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-423).

April 5, 1974--The HEW assistant secretary for health released the Report to the President by the President's Advisory Panel on Heart Disease. The report surveys the problem of heart and blood vessel disorders and recommends how illness and death from these disorders may be reduced.

August 2, 1974--Regulations were approved governing the establishment, support, and operation of National Research and Demonstration Centers for heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases. The regulations concern the implementation of section 415(b) of the PHS act, as amended by the National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung and Blood Act of 1972, which authorized the establishment and support of National Research and Demonstration Centers.

June 25, 1976--NHLI was redesignated the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute by an amendment to Public Health Service Act (P.L. 94-278). This further enlarged institute authority to advance the national attack on heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases and the conduct of research in the use of blood and blood products and in the management of blood resources.

July 1, 1976--The National High Blood Pressure Education Program releases the first Joint National Committee Report on the Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.

October 28, 1977--The U.S.-U.S.S.R. Cooperative Health Program was renewed for another 5 years with the signing of an agreement by Dr. Julius B. Richmond, HEW assistant secretary for health, and Dr. Dmitri D. Venedictov, U.S.S.R. deputy minister of health.

February 1978--The NHLBI and American Heart Association jointly celebrated their 30th anniversary.

September 1979--The Task Force on Hypertension, established in September 1975 to assess the current state of hypertension research, completed its in-depth survey and recommendations for improved prevention, treatment, and control in 14 major areas. These recommendations are intended to guide the NHLBI in its future efforts.

November 1979--The results of the Hypertension Detection and Followup Program, a major clinical trial started in 1971, provided evidence that tens of thousands of lives are being saved through treatment of mild hypertension and that perhaps thousands more could be saved annually if all people with mild hypertension were under treatment.

November 21, 1980--The Albert Lasker Special Public Health Award is presented to the institute for its Hypertension Detection and Followup Program, "which stands alone among clinical studies in its profound potential benefit to millions of people."

September 8, 1981--A Working Group on Arteriosclerosis, convened in 1978 to assess present understanding, to highlight unresolved problems, and to emphasize opportunities for future research in arteriosclerosis, completed its report. Volume I presents conclusions and recommendations in nontechnical language. Volume II provides in-depth substantial basis for the conclusions and recommendations contained in volume I.

October 2, 1981--The Beta-Blocker Heart Attack Trial (BHAT) demonstrated benefits to those in the trial who received the drug propranolol compared with the control group.

October 26, 1983--The Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) results were released. They demonstrated that mildly symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease can safely defer coronary artery bypass surgery until symptoms worsen. Results of this clinical trial will help patients and their physicians decide whether and when bypass surgery should be undertaken. They can base their decisions on firmer scientific footing.

January 12, 1984--The Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention Trial established conclusively that reducing total blood cholesterol reduces the risk of coronary heart disease in men at increased risk because of raised cholesterol levels. Each 1 percent decrease in cholesterol can be expected to reduce heart attack risk by 2 percent.

April-September 1984--The Tenth Report of the Director, NHLBI, commemorated the 10th anniversary of the passage of the National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Act. The publication reviews 10 years of research progress and presents a 5-year research plan for the national program.

April 1984--The Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications was created. The reorganization provides the institute with a focus on clinical trials; prevention, demonstration, and education programs; behavioral medicine; nutrition; epidemiology; and biometry. It also provides opportunities to examine the interrelationships of cardiovascular, respiratory, and blood diseases.

April 1985--Results of phase I of the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) trial comparing streptokinase (SK) with tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) produced by recombinant means were published. The new thrombolytic agent rt-PA is approximately twice as effective as SK in opening thrombosed coronary arteries.

October 1985--The NHLBI Smoking Education Program was initiated.

November 1985--The National Cholesterol Education Program was inaugurated.

June 1986--Results of the prophylactic penicillin trial were released. They demonstrate the efficacy of propylactic use of penicillin in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with pneumococcal infections in children with sickle cell disease.

Major national efforts to prevent early death in the at-risk pediatric population are now possible.

October 1986-September 1987--The NHLBI celebrated its 40th anniversary and the NIH centennial with a year-long series of events. Activities included scientific symposia and conferences, commemorative publications and exhibits, and a reunion of former NHLBI directors.

October 1987--The NHLBI established the National Blood Resource Education Program.

March 1989--The NHLBI initiated the National Asthma Education Program.

September 1990--NHLBI and NCI scientists began the first gene therapy trial in a human patient, a 4-year-old girl with an inherited immune dysfunction.

January 1991--The NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative began to educate the public and health professionals about obesity as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and its relationship to other risk factors such as high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.

February 1991--Expert panel of the National Asthma Education Program released "Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Asthma" report to educate physicians and other health care providers in asthma management.

June 11, 1991--The NHLBI initiated a National Heart Attack Alert Program to reduce premature morbidity and mortality from acute myocardial infarction and sudden death. The program emphasizes rapid disease identification and treatment.

July 1991--Results of the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) were released. They demonstrate that low-dose pharmacologic therapy of isolated systolic hypertension in those over age 60 significantly reduces stroke and myocardial infarction.

August 1991--Results of the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction were released. They demonstrated that the use of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril causes significant reduction in mortality and hospitalization for congestive heart failure in patients with symptomatic heart failure.

October 30, 1992--The National High Blood Pressure Education Program celebrated is 20th anniversary. The fifth Joint National Committee Report on the Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure and the first report on the Primary Prevention of Hypertension were released.

June 15, 1993--The Second Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults was released.

January 30, 1995--Results of the Multicenter Study of Hydroxyurea were released through a clinical alert. They demonstrate that hydroxyurea reduced the number of painful episodes by 50 percent in severely affected adults with sickle cell disease. This is the first effective treatment for adult patients with this disorder.

September 21, 1995--Results of the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation were released through a clinical alert. They demonstrate tht patients on drug treatment for diabetes who had blockages in two or more conronary arteries and were treated with conronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) had, at 5 years, a markedly lower death rate than similar patients treated with angioplasty. The clinical alert recommends CABG over standard angioplasty for patients on drug therapy for diabetes who have multiple coronary blockages and are first-time candidates for either procedure.

November 5-6, 1995--The first Conference on Socioeconomic Status (SES) and Cardio-vascular Health and Disease was held to determine future opportunities and needs for research.

December 4-5, 1995--A celebration of the 10th anniversary of the NCEP is held in conjunction with the NCEP coordinating committee meeting. Results of the 1995 Cholesterol Awareness Surveys of physicians and the public are released at the accompanying press conference.

May 21, 1996-- The NHLBI announces results from the Framingham Heart Study that conclude earlier and more aggressive treatment of hypertension is vital to preventing congestive heart failure. Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, a healthy eating plan, and physical activity, are crucial for reducing blood lipids in those treated for stage I hypertension.

September 1996--Findings from the Asthma Clinical Research Network show that for people with asthma, taking an inhaled beta-agonist at regularly scheduled times is safe but provides no greater benefit than taking the medication only when asthma symptoms occur. The recommendation to physicians who treat patients with mild asthma is to prescribe inhaled beta-agonists only on an as-needed basis.

November 13, 1996-- The NHLBI releases findings from two studies that show lifestyle changes, such as modifying one’s diet and losing weight, substantially reduce blood pressure in adults and can keep older patients off antihypertensive medication.

June 25, 1948--The Second Deficiency Appropriation Act of 1948 (P.L. 80-785) appropriated "For an additional amount, Fiscal year 1949 for `National Institute of Health, operating expenses,' $500,000: Provided, that appropriations under said head for the Fiscal year 1949 shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the National Heart Act, including erection of temporary structures for storage of equipment and supplies and housing of animals."

June 29, 1949--The Labor-Federal Security Appropriation Act 1950 (P.L. 141) appropriated $10,725,000 for expenses necessary to carry out the purposes of the National Heart Act, including grants-in-aid for drawing plans, erection of buildings, and acquisition of land therefor, and, in addition to the amount appropriated, authorized "the Surgeon General, upon recommendations of the National Advisory Heart Council, to approve applications for research and training grants, including grants for drawing plans, erection of buildings, and acquisition of land therefor, not to exceed a total of $5,350,000, for periods beyond the current Fiscal year, and such grants shall, if approved during the current Fiscal year, constitute a contractual obligation of the Federal Government."

August 15, 1950--The Omnibus Act of 1950 (P.L. 81-692) provided for the termination of all appointments to the heart and other councils on September 30, and for appointment of a full new membership on October 1, 1950. The act established uniformity in composition of membership and term of office for all councils.

December 30, 1963--House Joint Resolution 848 (P.L. 88-254) of the 88th Congress was approved, which authorized and requested the President to issue an annual proclamation designating February as American Heart Month, inviting governors of states and territories to issue similar proclamations.

October 6, 1965--P.L. 89-199 provided supplemental appropriations for FY 1966 to implement recommendations of the President's Commission on Heart Disease, Cancer, and Stroke that fall within existing legislative authorities. NHI received funds to expand training programs and plan research centers.

May 16, 1972--The National Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act (P.L. 92-294) established a national program for the diagnosis, control, and treatment of and research in sickle cell anemia. The act does not mention NHLI but has special pertinence because NHLI has been designated to coordinate the National Sickle Cell Disease Program.

September 19, 1972--The National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-423) enlarged the authority of the institute to advance the national attack on heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases. The act provides for expanded, intensified, and coordinated institute activities in accordance with a comprehensive, specified National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Disease Program to be planned by the director and the National Heart and Lung Advisory Council.

Other provisions include the establishment of prevention and control programs; development of 15 new centers for basic and clinical research, training, demonstration, and prevention programs for heart, blood vessel, and blood diseases; and development of 15 such centers for chronic lung diseases.

June 25, 1976--Title I of the Health Research and Health Services Amendments of 1976 (P.L. 94-278) redesignated NHLI as National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to advance the national attack on heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases, and to conduct research in the use of blood and blood products and in the management of blood resources. The NHLBI director with the aid of the institute's Advisory Council continues to plan the national program under the basic P.L. 92-423 provisions with some refinements.

August 1, 1977--The Biomedical Research Extension Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-83) reauthorized NHLBI, with continued emphasis on both the national program and related prevention and dissemination activities.

December 17, 1980--The Health Programs Extension Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-538) reauthorized NHLBI, with continued emphasis on both the national program and related prevention programs.

September 20, 1988 and November 4, 1988--The National Bone Marrow Donor Registry (P.L. 100-436, P.L. 100-607) was established. With the enactment of these authorization and appropriation measures, NHLBI is given the task of developing an implementation plan for the voluntary bone marrow registry.

November 4, 1988--The Health Omnibus Extension Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-607) reauthorized NHLBI, with $1.4 billion for programs other than control and $101 million for control programs for FY 1989. In addition, it allocated such sums as are necessary for FY 1990.

June 10, 1993--The NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-43) established the National Center on Sleep Disorders within NHLBI.

Dr. Lenfant was appointed NHLBI director on July 6, 1982. He was born on October 12, 1928, in Paris, France. He received his B.S. degree in 1948 from the University of Rennes, France, and his M.D. in 1956 from the University of Paris.

Upon completing his medical studies, he assumed the position of director of the Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Centre Marie Lannelongue, in Paris. While there he directed research into extracorporeal oxygenation of blood and the use of deep hypothermia in cardiac surgery.

In 1957 Dr. Lenfant was appointed postdoctoral fellow at the University of Buffalo, and the following year continued that appointment at Columbia University in New York. His postdoctoral interests were directed to respiratory and circulatory physiology.

Returning to France, he assumed a teaching position as assistant professor of physiology at the University of Lille. He soon returned to the U.S., however, where he was appointed to a joint position in the departments of medicine and of physiology and biophysics at the University of Washington, Seattle. He rose to the rank of professor in both departments. He published extensively on the dynamics of blood-gas exchange in humans and various other species under normal conditions and under conditions of altitude and pressure. Respiratory adaptation to hypoxia, anemia, alkalosis and acidosis also were investigated.

In 1970 Dr. Lenfant was appointed the first associate director for lung programs of the then National Heart and Lung Institute, and also assumed the position of acting associate director for collaborative research and development programs. This program evolved into the Division of Lung Diseases, formed in 1972, with Dr. Lenfant as its director. For his accomplishments he was awarded the HEW Superior Service Honor Award in 1974. The Division of Lung Diseases continued to grow and to coordinate a strong and diverse program of research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases.

He became NIH associate director for international research and director of the Fogarty International Center in 1981, positions he held until his appointment as director of NHLBI. In 1983 he was elected member of the Institute of Medicine, NAS. He was named Distinguished Executive of the Senior Executive Service in 1991 and Federal Executive of the year for 1992 by the institute alumni association.

Dr. Lenfant received the Surgeon General's Exemplary Award in 1993, the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology and the Giovanni Lorenzi Foundation Prize for the Advancement of Biomedical Science in 1994, and the Laura Graves Award--National Marrow Donor Program and the Consortium of Southeastern Hypertension Centers' Excellence in Leadership Award in 1995

He holds honorary degrees from the universities in Taipei, Taiwan; Lima, Peru; and from the University of New York at Buffalo (D.Sc., 1988).

His memberships include the Soviet Union’s Academy of Medical Sciences and of the National French Academy of Medicine. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (London), an honorary member of the Royal Society of Medicine, and an honorary fellow in the Polish Society of Hypertension.

Dr. Lenfant is a member of a number of professional societies including the American and French Physiological Societies, the American Society for Clinical Research, the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and the Association of American Physicians. He has served on the editorial board of American Journal of Physiology, Journal of Applied Physiology, American Review of Respiratory Disease, Revue Francaise des Maladies Respiratories and the American Journal of Medicine. He is the chief editor of a series of monographs, Lung Biology in Health and Disease that includes 102 volumes. He has published more than 225 papers in his areas of research interest.

The NHLBI uses research grants, program project grants, specialized center grants, cooperative agreements, research contracts, research career development awards, and institutional and individual national research service awards to support research and research training. The four program divisions and one center of the NHLBI offer support in the following areas.

Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases