👨⚕️ Prof. Faiez Zannad, MD, PhD
Professor (Emeritus) of Therapeutics & Cardiology · University of Lorraine (Nancy, France)
🌍 Founder & Chair, Global CVCT Forum · Heart Failure Trialist · Clinical Pharmacologist.
Renowned clinician-scientist shaping modern heart failure therapy through landmark trials like EMPHASIS-HF, RALES & EPHESUS.
🩺 About Prof. Faiez Zannad
Prof. Faiez Zannad is an internationally recognized heart-failure clinician-scientist and clinical pharmacologist known for transforming cardiovascular medicine. As Professor (Emeritus) of Therapeutics & Cardiology at the University of Lorraine in Nancy, France, he has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes through pioneering research and leadership. He has led and co-led cornerstone trials like EMPHASIS-HF, RALES, and EPHESUS, which have shaped the global treatment standards for heart failure. 💡
He is also the Founder and Chair of the Global CardioVascular Clinical Trialists (CVCT) Forum — an international think tank connecting regulators, academia, and industry experts across Washington DC, Paris, Asia, and the Middle East. 🌍 The CVCT Forum is widely recognized as the leading platform for advancing clinical trial methods and innovation in cardiovascular therapeutics.
Trained in Nancy, Lyon, and at the MRC in Oxford, Prof. Zannad has served as Head of the Heart Failure, Hypertension & Preventive Cardiology division at CHU Nancy and continues to inspire new generations of physicians and researchers worldwide through his mentorship, publications, and leadership in major societies such as the ESC and HFA. 🧠
View Prof. Faiez Zannad latest publications for the following journals:
🔬 Clinical & Research Focus
💓 Heart Failure Therapeutics
Prof. Zannad has been at the forefront of heart failure treatment research, focusing on MRAs, SGLT2 inhibitors, and RAAS modulation. His work has advanced understanding of fibrosis, biomarkers, and mechanisms that drive heart failure progression — laying the foundation for today’s global therapy standards.
📊 Clinical Trials & Methods
As the founder of the Global CVCT Forum, he promotes excellence in clinical trial design and execution. His expertise covers endpoints, safety monitoring, and translational research — connecting regulators, academia, and industry to enhance global cardiovascular trials.
🫀 Hypertension & Prevention
Prof. Zannad has contributed to major advances in pharmacology and risk-guided prevention of cardiovascular disease. His leadership within the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and Heart Failure Association (HFA) has shaped international guidelines and preventive care approaches.
🏅 Selected Impact
🌍 Founder & Chair, Global CVCT Forum
Established the international cardiovascular clinical trials forum connecting regulators, academia & industry — held in Washington DC, Paris, Asia & the Middle East.
📄 EMPHASIS-HF (NEJM 2011)
First-author trial showing eplerenone reduces cardiovascular death and heart-failure hospitalizations in mild HFrEF — practice-changing worldwide.
🧪 RALES & EPHESUS Trials
Led and co-led pivotal studies proving spironolactone and eplerenone reduce mortality in severe heart failure and post-MI LV dysfunction — defining modern HF therapy.
🏛️ ESC Leadership Roles
Past Chair of the ESC Working Group on Pharmacology & Drug Therapy and former Heart Failure Association (HFA) Board Member — advancing global cardiology standards.
📚 Highly Cited Researcher
Recognized among the most cited cardiovascular researchers globally, with prolific publications across heart failure, pharmacology, and clinical trial methodology.
🧬 Landmark Trials
💊 EMPHASIS-HF (NEJM 2011)
Population: NYHA II HFrEF (EF ≤35%); n=2737.
Intervention: Eplerenone vs placebo on top of guideline therapy.
Primary Outcome: ↓ Cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization.
Why it matters: Extended MRA benefits into milder symptomatic HF — shaping modern heart failure therapy. 🔬
🫀 RALES (NEJM 1999)
Population: Severe HFrEF.
Intervention: Spironolactone vs placebo.
Outcome: ↓ Morbidity & mortality — pivotal for MRA class.
Impact: Defined the clinical use of MRAs and set a new benchmark for heart failure treatment. 💡
💉 EPHESUS (NEJM 2003)
Population: Post-MI with LV dysfunction/HF.
Intervention: Eplerenone vs placebo.
Outcome: ↓ All-cause and cardiovascular mortality & hospitalization.
Why it matters: Demonstrated post-MI survival benefit, reinforcing MRAs as essential in heart failure care. 🧠
🌍 Global CVCT Forum
The Global CardioVascular Clinical Trialists (CVCT) Forum is the world’s leading think tank on cardiovascular clinical trials — connecting regulators, academia, and industry leaders from around the globe. The Forum hosts its annual meetings in Washington DC, Paris, Asia, and the Middle East, fostering collaboration and innovation in clinical trial design and implementation. 💡
The 2025 Forum will be held at The Mayflower, Washington DC, bringing together top experts to discuss pivotal studies, trial methodology, and future innovation in heart failure and cardiovascular medicine.
🎤 Invited Lectures
- ESC Congress & HFA Meetings (Frequent Faculty)
- Radcliffe Cardiology / Medical Education (On-Demand)
🎖️ Awards & Honors
Eugene Braunwald Scholar & Visiting Professor
Recognized as a Eugene Braunwald Scholar and served as Visiting Professor at Brigham & Women’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School, as featured in international faculty and speaker bios.
Early National Awards in Clinical Pharmacology
Received early-career national distinctions in clinical pharmacology (France) for pioneering work in cardiovascular therapeutics and translational medicine.
💡 Entrepreneurship & Innovation
CardioRenal, Sàrl – Co-Founder
Co-founder of CardioRenal, Sàrl, a digital-health company focused on telemedicine and biomarker-based monitoring for patients with cardiorenal disease — merging technology with clinical precision to improve outcomes.
Patents – Biomarker / Diagnostics
Holds patents in biomarker and diagnostic innovation, listed under the CIC Nancy registry — contributing to next-generation diagnostic tools and translational medicine solutions.
📬 Contact / Collaboration
🤝 For speaking, advisory, or collaborations:
🏛️ Clinical Investigation Centre (INSERM–CHU Nancy)
🎓 University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
📄 Emails above are cited from peer-reviewed publications and academic pages; use for professional outreach only.
🔗 Sources / References
📚 Verified official sources and professional profiles cited below: