Investigation of causes, pathogenesis, therapy and prevention of the most frequent circulatory diseases has been the key task of the Institute for Cardiovascular Research founded in 1951. The Institute’s Working groups were created accordingly: Arterial hypertension (headed by Jan Brod), Coronary heart disease (Vilém Ganz), Arterio- sclerosis (Tibor Zemplényi), Higher nervous activity in relation to circulation (Walter Ehrlich), Disturbance in the circulatory regulations (Zdeněk Fejfar). Rheumatic heart disease, disturbed function of the kidneys and of the electrolyte metabolism and peripheral vascular disease were also of the clinical interest. The care of patients was the indispensable basis for clinical research. Consisted of the clinical department with 80 beds, large outpatient department, RTG, ECG, biochemical and haematological laboratories. Research projects originated from clinical problem investigated primarily in man. Animal experiment was used only in the solution on man proved not possible. Within a couple of years the Cardiovascular Research Institute became well known abroad and one of the leading clinical centres in Czechoslovakia.

        Key words: history, cardiovascular research, Research Institute.