Barbara Casadei, a leading figure in cardiovascular medicine and research, has been appointed Editor in Chief of JAMA Cardiology, the premier international journal dedicated to advancing cardiovascular science. Casadei, who currently serves as the Head of the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) and British Heart Foundation Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Imperial College London, is set to assume this prestigious role in early 2026. Her appointment signals a new chapter for the journal, which continues to expand its influence in the global cardiology community through cutting-edge research and scholarly discourse.
The transition represents a significant moment, as Dr. Casadei will succeed Robert Bonow, MD, MS, the founding Editor in Chief of JAMA Cardiology. Dr. Bonow, affiliated with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, is widely credited with establishing the journal’s strong foundation and securing its reputation as an essential platform for cardiovascular research. Under his leadership, JAMA Cardiology achieved impressive milestones, including a Journal Impact Factor of 14.1, reflecting its outstanding influence and reach within the cardiology scholarly ecosystem.
Dr. Casadei brings to this role a wealth of experience in cardiovascular research with a pronounced focus on translational science. Her career has been marked by a “bench to bedside” approach, encompassing fundamental discoveries and their clinical applications. Key areas of her research portfolio include heart failure and atrial fibrillation, both of which constitute major global health burdens. The integration of molecular insights and clinical data in her work exemplifies the contemporary approach to tackling cardiovascular disease through personalized medicine and innovative therapeutic strategies.
One of Dr. Casadei’s notable initiatives is EuroHeart, which she co-founded and co-chairs. Supported by the European Society of Cardiology, this initiative aims to evaluate and enhance the quality of cardiovascular care across Europe. By rigorously assessing clinical practices, EuroHeart seeks to standardize care pathways and improve patient outcomes, addressing discrepancies in treatment effectiveness and accessibility across different healthcare systems. EuroHeart’s work exemplifies the broad societal impact of cardiovascular research beyond the confines of the laboratory or clinic.
Moreover, Dr. Casadei is the principal investigator of a large-scale cardiac monitoring study involving more than 35,000 participants from the UK Biobank imaging cohort. This study leverages advanced AI-driven imaging techniques to detect clinically silent arrhythmias and investigates their relationship with cognitive decline and the risk of cardioembolic stroke. This research embodies the convergence of artificial intelligence, epidemiology, and cardiology, reflecting the future trajectory of cardiovascular diagnostics and risk stratification where non-invasive, data-intensive technologies lead the way.
Her leadership extends beyond research; Dr. Casadei serves on the boards of several prestigious institutions, including the Leducq Foundation in the United States, the Novo Nordisk Foundation in Denmark, the Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, and CADENCE in Singapore. These roles underscore her global influence and commitment to fostering international collaborations that drive cardiovascular science forward through funding, policy development, and the promotion of interdisciplinary research.
Dr. Casadei’s distinguished career has been recognized by numerous honors. She is a recipient of the Mackenzie Medal from the British Cardiovascular Society and the Gold Medal from the European Society of Cardiology, accolades reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to cardiovascular medicine. Additionally, she served as President of the European Society of Cardiology from 2018 to 2020, where she led initiatives that expanded the society’s educational reach and heightened global awareness of cardiovascular disease prevention and management.
Her academic credentials are equally notable. Dr. Casadei earned her medical degree from the University of Pavia in Italy before completing a doctorate at the University of Oxford. She maintains a strong connection to Oxford as a Visiting Professor, fostering academic exchanges and mentoring the next generation of cardiovascular researchers and clinicians. This transatlantic academic pedigree enriches her perspective, blending European and UK medical traditions with international research standards.
In assuming the Editor in Chief position at JAMA Cardiology, Dr. Casadei expressed her enthusiasm for guiding the journal towards new horizons. She emphasized the importance of broadening the journal’s global impact and embracing the rapid evolution of cardiovascular medicine. Her vision includes inspiring and educating emerging healthcare professionals, ensuring that the journal remains at the forefront of scientific dialogue, and continuing to disseminate influential research that shapes clinical practice worldwide.
JAMA Cardiology itself stands as a vital component of the JAMA Network, which includes JAMA and eleven other specialty journals. With over six million annual article views and downloads, the journal occupies a unique position, influencing policy, clinical guidelines, and research priorities across diverse cardiology subspecialties. The high Journal Impact Factor of 14.1 attests to the quality and relevance of its published work, reflecting rigorous peer review and a commitment to publishing transformative cardiovascular science.
Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, M.D., Ph.D., M.A.S., Editor in Chief of JAMA and the JAMA Network, remarked on Dr. Casadei’s appointment as a testament to the journal’s ongoing strategy to expand its reach and influence. She highlighted Dr. Casadei as an internationally recognized leader with extensive expertise, anticipating fruitful collaborations that will enhance the journal’s profile. Dr. Bibbins-Domingo also acknowledged Dr. Bonow and his editorial team’s visionary work in launching JAMA Cardiology, setting a strong precedent for future growth and impact.
As cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, the role of journals like JAMA Cardiology in disseminating robust, peer-reviewed research is indispensable. Dr. Casadei’s editorial stewardship promises to invigorate the field with innovative concepts and translational research that will influence clinical practice and public health policies worldwide. Her leadership will likely foster novel interdisciplinary collaborations, integrating insights from genomics, imaging, data science, and clinical trials to address unmet cardiovascular health challenges.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of cardiovascular medicine, where technological advances such as AI, machine learning, and big data analytics are reshaping diagnostics and treatment paradigms, Dr. Casadei’s expertise places her in an ideal position to guide JAMA Cardiology into this new era. Her global network and academic stature will undoubtedly attract high-caliber submissions and facilitate dissemination of impactful research, reinforcing the journal’s role as a central hub for cardiology innovation.
As she prepares to take the helm in early 2026, Dr. Casadei’s appointment marks not only a personal career milestone but also an inflection point for JAMA Cardiology. With her vision and leadership, the journal is poised to achieve greater international reach and scientific influence, continuing to set standards for excellence in cardiovascular research publication for years to come.
Subject of Research: Cardiovascular medicine, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, cardiac imaging, arrhythmias, translational cardiovascular research
News Publication Date: August 28, 2025
Image Credits: JAMA Network
Keywords: Scientific journals, Cardiology
