Table 7.

Research Priorities to Be Addressed in the Next 5 Years

1. Understand the mechanisms underlying adaptive vs. maladaptive RV adaptation to pulmonary vascular load, including role of fibrosis, angiogenesis, metabolic shifts

2. Develop a series of plasma and/or imaging biomarkers (by echocardiography and CMR) that could be used to accurately evaluate RV function, perfusion, and RV–PA coupling and as endpoints in clinical trials

3. Develop and validate or improve on current animal models of RV dysfunction in the setting of increased pulmonary vascular load

4. Develop therapies aimed at targeting RV myocardial contractility (e.g., calcium-sensitizing agents targeting sarcoplasmic reticulum and/or sarcomere function)

Definition of abbreviations: CMR = cardiac magnetic resonance imaging; PA = pulmonary artery; RV = right ventricular.

The list was generated by surveying working group members to identify their top five priorities. The most commonly mentioned topics and themes are included in the table.