When considering the perspectives of cardiovascular research, the first question to ask is whether it is justified to focus specifically on cardiovascular research in Central and Eastern Europe, i.e. whether different socio-economic circumstances should influence the direction of cardiovascular research. Over the past four decades, age-adjusted cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in Europe has declined and is currently following a steady trend; nonetheless, CVDs are still a major cause of death and accounts for 46% of all deaths.