FRAMINGHAM, MA — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined the Director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the groundbreaking Framingham Heart Study (FHS). This long-term study began in 1948 with 5,209 adult residents in Framingham, resulting in over 3,000 peer-reviewed scientific papers and numerous breakthroughs in heart science, including insights into the cardiovascular effects of diet, exercise, and smoking. 

"It was a privilege to join in celebrating three generations of extraordinary progress," said Whip Clark. "From researchers to participants, the thousands of people behind the Framingham Heart Study are proof of humanity's capacity for good. I am so proud to be their partner, and I am committed to bringing home the federal funding we need to continue building on the lifesaving advances we have forged over the last 75 years."

Boston University has been the academic home of the FHS for 55 years and has worked with nearly 14,000 Framingham residents during that time. Some of the FHS’ major contributions include identifying the connection between cigarettes and heart disease, introducing the term “risk factor,” and developing the Framingham Risk Score to estimate a patient’s 10-year heart disease outlook.

Photos of the event are available HERE. 

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