Note from Christoph Gräni, the new editor-in-chief of the international journal of cardiovascular imaging

It is a great honor and privilege to be announced as the new Editor-in-Chief of The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging. Cardiovascular imaging is an interdisciplinary, cross-sectional field and encompasses a wide range of techniques, including echocardiography, cardiovascular computed tomography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance, nuclear cardiology, X-ray angiography, and intravascular imaging. In the past, when mono-modality approaches led to competition among techniques and departments, today, we are aiming for a “patient-centered” multimodality imaging approach that guides the selection of either a single or a combination of different cardiovascular imaging modalities based on the specific clinical question to address it (Fig. 1). Cardiovascular imaging has evolved beyond being merely a diagnostic tool; it now stands as a fundamental element in different aspects of the care of all cardiovascular patients. This includes, but is not limited to, areas such as coronary artery disease, preventive cardiology, heart failure, congenital heart disease, structural heart disease, valvular heart disease, patients with rhythm disorders, cardiomyopathies and vascular disease. Its pivotal role encompasses risk assessment, treatment planning, guiding during interventions, and monitoring of treatment success (Fig. 2). With my experience as a cardiologist and the director of multimodality cardiac imaging at the University Hospital Bern in Switzerland, where I am responsible for echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and nuclear cardiology, working closely with the departments of radiology and nuclear medicine, I am committed to continuing my mission of enhancing the accessibility of cardiovascular imaging for all cardiovascular caregivers and furthering its integration into clinical practice. Therefore, the target audience of the journal extends beyond cardiovascular imagers in cardiology, radiology, and nuclear medicine and includes professionals from all allied disciplines that utilize imaging, such as general cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, heart failure specialists, electrophysiologists, preventive cardiologists, and cardiovascular surgeons.

Fig. 1

Choosing the right imaging modality. This figure depicts how a multimodal, patient-centered approach involves choosing the appropriate cardiovascular imaging modality, or a combination thereof, based on the clinical question

Fig. 2

Areas of Multimodality Cardiovascular Imaging. This figure illustrates how cardiovascular imaging plays a crucial role not only in diagnostics but also in planning therapy, simulation, guiding therapy during interventions, and monitoring therapy

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging enjoys a strong reputation within the community, and it is a great honor to build upon the success of Professor Johan Reiber, who led the journal for so many years with great success. The field of cardiovascular imaging is advancing rapidly, and in my vision, the journal should stay in step with cutting-edge developments, always with a focus on the clinical application. As the significance of cardiovascular imaging continues to rise, the journal's importance and influence are poised for parallel expansion. In my view, certain fields warrant special attention, and I am committed to prioritize these specific areas. I hold a strong belief that artificial intelligence will serve as a catalyst for transformation in cardiovascular imaging and this rapidly evolving field should receive a high priority under my leadership. Artificial intelligence will empower us to operate with greater efficiency by expediting image segmentation, recognizing novel risk patterns, and introducing innovative classifications, ultimately resulting in enhanced patient outcomes. Furthermore, together with my team, we will give precedence to the exploration of novel developments in technology utilization. This includes the adoption of new scanners and devices, novel sequence developments, radiomics, post-processing methods, and how they can be implemented into clinical routine, alongside with emerging technologies such as 3D printing, virtual reality, and fused imaging. Furthermore, a key goal is to foster inclusiveness within our journal. We strive to have an editorial board with members from diverse geographical regions and backgrounds, and equally important, we aim to involve authors, reviewers, and experts from all around the world, thereby promoting diversity within the journal.

In conclusion, I aspire with my team of The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging to collaboratively shape the future of cardiovascular imaging alongside the publisher, editorial team, and the enthusiastic clinicians, researchers, authors, reviewers, and readers from the cardiovascular imaging community. The journal is intended to continue to be an important high-quality source for knowledge, innovation, and collaboration in cardiovascular imaging, with the primary objective of improving patient care and outcomes.