The International Society for Heart Research began as an "International Study Group for Research in Cardiac Metabolism" in Dubrovnik in 1968; at the 1976 World Congress in Tokyo, it adopted the name "International Society for Heart Research". It currently has over 3,000 members and comprises 7 international Sections (Australasian, Chinese, European, Indian, Japanese, Latin American and North American). The current president is Dr. Yoshihiko Saito Nara.
The ISHR has developed a number of awards (Peter Harris Distinguished Scientist Award, Research Achievement Award, Outstanding Investigator Award, three named Distinguished Lecture Awards and Distinguished Leader Award for Faculty).[3] It also gives the Richard J. Bing Award for Young Investigators, an award named after its first President and founder.