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Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation Background
The mission of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation is to promote and improve cardiovascular health, quality of life and longevity for all.
Organization History
In 1982, thirteen Minneapolis Heart Institute cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons founded the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF). They envisioned a new kind of research and education center, one that would address the unmet patient needs they saw at clinics across Minnesota every day. This vision continues to guide the organization today, advancing the level of cardiovascular care available to patients in Minnesota and beyond.
Among the top ten clinical cardiovascular research and education institutions in the country, MHIF conducts more than 100 clinical studies annually and is recognized as a leader in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, electrophysiology, prevention and more. Each year, cardiologists and hospitals from around the world adopt MHIF protocols to improve patient care.
As an active community member, MHIF offers a wide-array of outreach education programs on a variety of subjects ranging from women's heart health to youth workshops that are designed to fight the increasing problem of childhood obesity. In short, we are using learning to save lives and enhance longevity with meaningful and measurable results.
Current Programs and Activities
- The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, which is designated as one of five Cardiovascular Stem Cell Centers of Excellence by the National Institutes of Health, has treated the largest number of heart patients using adult stem cell therapy in the United States.
- In 2008, MHIF coordinated more than 140 clinical research studies in cardiovascular medicine and surgery. One of which, our Level One program, has dramatically decreased the time it takes for heart attacks to be treated, cutting the mortality rate in half.
- Our OPTIMIST Program treats patients with complex coronary artery blockages that are not surgical candidates—patients who have been told there is no hope. The program offers clinical treatment options including gene therapy (growing new blood vessels), investigational drug studies, and spinal cord stimulation. Therapies used, including the use of the patients own stem cells, have reduced pain and participants’ morality rate to that of people with cardiovascular disease that is surgically treatable.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden death in athletes. It is estimated to affect one in 500 people. Yet little is known about the disease. Led by Dr. Barry Maron, MHIF’s Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center (HCM Center) is one of three "Preferred Providers" listed by the Hypertrophic Cardiomypathy Association.
- MHIF education programs reach thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. Our Heart of New Ulm program merits national attention for its innovative strategies to reduce an entire town’s heart attack mortality rate to zero over a ten year period. This innovative and ambitious program is partnering with medical personal, the city of New Ulm and its citizens (approximately 15,000 people) to teach heart-healthy behaviors to improve nutrition, increase exercise opportunities and facilitate tobacco cessation.
