The Competence Network Heart Failure

Background

The German Competence Network Heart Failure (CNHF) was established in June 2003 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education. Its main purpose is to provide and nurture interdisciplinary cooperation between research and primary, secondary and tertiary health care.

Many internationally renowned heart failure researchers and working groups live and work in Germany. Nevertheless, there is insufficient cooperation of the respective working groups and research projects in this area.

In order to remain internationally competitive in the heart failure research community, excellent implementation of large scale clinical and genetic trials is indispensable. Further, deficits in the effective presentation and transfer of research findings into clinical practice need to be addressed. An adequate translation of guidelines into practical, tangible instructions can facilitate clinical practice both in primary and tertiary care fundamentally. The need for action to address the research-practice-gap is obvious.

Objectives

Augmentation of research efficiency and effectiveness
Research deficits are to be identified in order to create the basis for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies
Improvement in the quality of health care
Initially, a review of health care in different locations will be carried out for this purpose. Results of these analyses will provide a rational basis for preventive strategies amongst the German population
Influence of the network on the general population
The aim of the Competence Network Heart Failure is to provide patients and the general public alike with comprehensive information about heart failure and latest research results in this area to form the basis for more effective prevention.

Implementation

There are three main elements which play a key role in the achievement of these objectives: Firstly, the establishment of a capable, high-quality infrastructure for cooperation; secondly, the formation of a centre for clinical trial coordination, management and biometrics; and thirdly the setup of a central biomaterial bank to process and store biomaterial for the whole network. The scientific emphases of the respective working groups and reference centres are integrated into the whole network project in such a way that research findings are only obtainable in cooperation and could not have been delivered by any individual facility.

Fast and effective translation of new research findings into clinical practice is to be achieved by facilitating interactions between science and hands-on health care. The various stakeholders to be integrated into specific research projects include all those involved in the provision of health care, for example general practitioners, cardiology specialists, support groups as well as rehabilitation specialists.

The German population is to be informed about heart failure, its risk factors and development by means of public relations strategies such as continuous, widespread media attention.

Patient information leaflets are to be developed to provide heart failure information and practical advice on how to cope with the illness.