Special Interview with Prof. Eric Adler
On February 26, 2026, the Editorial Office of The Journal of Cardiovascular Aging conducted an interview with Prof. Eric Adler from the Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, California, USA. The interview was hosted by Dr. Michael Jingyuan Zhang from the Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minnesota, USA.
In this interview, Prof. Adler shared insights into the evolving landscape of genetic cardiomyopathies and heart failure research. He discussed the growing importance of genetic testing and precision medicine, emphasizing the field's transition from phenotype-based classification toward a cause-based framework. He also highlighted the application of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models and single-cell sequencing technologies in advancing mechanistic understanding and therapeutic development. In addition, Prof. Adler reflected on the professional values essential for scientific careers, underscoring the importance of tenacity, integrity, and collaboration.
Watch the full interview between Prof. Eric Adler and Dr. Michael Jingyuan Zhang:
Interview Questions:
Q1. Could you please briefly introduce the research work of your group?
Q2. One of your primary research focuses is idiopathic cardiomyopathies and heart failure. What initially motivated you to pursue this field?
Q3. Genetic cardiomyopathies remain major challenges in cardiovascular medicine. What do you consider the most significant breakthroughs in understanding and treating these conditions in recent years?
Q4. Looking ahead, what emerging research directions do you believe will have the greatest impact on the management of genetic cardiomyopathies and heart failure over the next decade?
Q5. As a leading physician-scientist, what advice would you offer to early-career researchers who aim to build a successful career in cardiovascular research?
About Prof. Eric Adler:
Prof. Eric Adler is a Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of the Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, California, USA. His research focuses on the genetic mechanisms underlying cardiomyopathies, including rare diseases such as Danon disease, using patient-derived stem cells, mouse models, and human cardiac tissue. He is a principal investigator in clinical trials exploring gene therapy and stem cell-based treatments for heart failure. His research has been widely published in leading medical journals and is supported by the National Institutes of Health and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
About Dr. Michael Jingyuan Zhang:
Dr. Michael Jingyuan Zhang, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor (tenure track) in the Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Minnesota, USA. His research focuses on the mechanisms linking atrial myopathy and atrial fibrillation, using an integrated approach that spans epidemiology, advanced cardiac imaging, translational animal models, and molecular signaling. He has authored numerous peer‑reviewed publications in journals such as Circulation, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). He is the recipient of multiple research awards from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.
Editor: Alex Wang
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of The Journal of Cardiovascular Aging
