NEW AUDIO INTERVIEW - Camilo Fernández Bravo, MD/PhD/FACC, Editor in Chief, on the Future of Clinical and Translational Cardiology

Abstract

NEW AUDIO INTERVIEW - Camilo Fernández Bravo, MD/PhD/FACC, Editor in Chief, on the Future of Clinical and Translational Cardiology** --- **HOST:** Welcome to our New Audio Interview series. Today we have a true leader in modern cardiology. Dr. Camilo Fernández Bravo, MD, PhD, FACC, Editor in Chief of the Journal of Clinical and Translational Cardiology. Dr. Fernández, thank you for joining us. **DR. CAMILO FERNÁNDEZ BRAVO:** Thank you for having me. It's a privilege to be here and to share the vision we are building at the Journal. **HOST:** Let's start with the big picture. You took on the role of Editor in Chief at a pivotal moment. What is your editorial vision for the Journal? **DR. CAMILO FERNÁNDEZ BRAVO:** My vision is clear: to close the gap between the bench and the bedside. For too long, excellent basic science takes years to reach clinical practice. As a translational journal, we want to be the accelerator. We are prioritizing three pillars: First, rigorous translational science — from genomics and AI-driven risk prediction to novel therapeutics. Second, real-world clinical relevance — every paper we publish must answer: how does this change patient care tomorrow? And third, global equity. Cardiology is not the same in Boston as it is in Bogotá or Bahia. We need science that serves diverse populations. **HOST:** That's powerful. You mentioned AI. The previous interview in this series was about AI and the workforce. How do you see AI transforming cardiology? **DR. CAMILO FERNÁNDEZ BRAVO:** AI is not replacing the cardiologist; it is augmenting the cardiologist. We are seeing three revolutions at once. One, in diagnostics: AI-enhanced ECG can now detect asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, even amyloidosis from a 10-second trace that a human eye would call normal. Two, in imaging: We can quantify coronary plaque, myocardial strain, and fibrosis in seconds with precision that was impossible five years ago. Three, in translational research: AI is helping us identify new drug targets by integrating multi-omics data. But as Editor in Chief, I am also very focused on the ethical and translational challenge. We must validate these algorithms prospectively, in diverse cohorts, and we must teach our fellows how to use them critically. That's why at JCTC we have launched a new section: "AI and Digital Cardiology — From Code to Clinic." **HOST:** As an MD, PhD, and FACC, you bridge clinical care and research. What are the most promising translational frontiers you are excited about right now? **DR. CAMILO FERNÁNDEZ BRAVO:** Three areas keep me up at night — in a good way. First, **inflammation in atherosclerosis.** The work from CANTOS to RESCUE and ZEUS trials has shown us that residual inflammatory risk is real. Targeting IL-6, clonal hematopoiesis — this is the next frontier beyond LDL. Second, **heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, HFpEF.** For decades we had nothing. Now we understand it as a systemic metabolic-inflammatory disease. The integration of SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists, and non-steroidal MRAs is changing the paradigm, but we need better phenotyping. And third, **polygenic risk and gene editing.** We are moving from a one-size-fits-all prevention model to true precision cardiology. The ability to identify a 30-year-old with high polygenic risk for CAD and intervene early — that's translational medicine at its best. **HOST:** What advice would you give to young investigators and early-career cardiologists who want to publish in a high-impact translational journal? **DR. CAMILO FERNÁNDEZ BRAVO:** I give them four pieces of advice. 1. Ask a clinically meaningful question. Don't start with a technique; start with a patient problem.2. Build a multidisciplinary team from day one. You need the clinician, the basic scientist, the bioinformatician, and the epidemiologist at the same table.3. Be rigorous about methodology. Reproducibility is our currency. At JCTC we now require detailed methods and data sharing statements for all translational studies.4. Don't be afraid to submit negative or confirmatory studies. We value scientific truth over flashiness. **HOST:** Finally, what is your message to our readers and listeners worldwide? **DR. CAMILO FERNÁNDEZ BRAVO:** That this is the most exciting time to be a cardiologist. The burden of cardiovascular disease remains enormous — it is still the number one killer globally — but for the first time, we have the tools to be predictive, preventive, and precise. At the Journal of Clinical and Translational Cardiology, our door is open. If you have research that moves the field from discovery to impact, we want to be your home. We are committed to fast, fair, and constructive peer review, because science delayed is care denied. **HOST:** Dr. Camilo Fernández Bravo, MD, PhD, FACC, Editor in Chief of the Journal of Clinical and Translational Cardiology. Thank you for this outstanding conversation. **DR. CAMILO FERNÁNDEZ BRAVO:** Thank you. ---