Basic, translational or clinic, research is a key component of cardiac surgery. Understanding basic cellular and molecular mechanisms is key to improving patient outcomes, and cardiac surgical procedures must be compared with nonsurgical alternatives. However, guidance for early-career investigators interested in cardiac surgery research is limited. This opinion piece aims at providing basic guidance and principles based on the authors' experience.
Copyright © 2024 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.