The great clinical significance and economic impact of coronary artery disease and heart failure which still have a high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality have triggered a major research effort into the discovery of novel biomarkers which might assist in diagnosis, risk stratification in primary and secondary prevention, and disease monitoring of these major cardiac diseases. This resulted in the description of numerous potentially useful novel cardiac biomarkers and the development of research biomarker assays. For many biomarkers, subsequently, assays have been developed which are also well suitable for routine measurement. Cardiac biomarkers which already made their way from research to widespread well-established routine clinical application are cardiac troponins and natriuretic peptides.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing research on the pathophysiology and clinical application of cardiac biomarkers.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Biomarkers of myocardial ischemia, early diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes
• Detection of the vulnerable patient and/or vulnerable coronary lesion
• Biomarkers of heart failure
• Novel molecular markers for diagnosis and risk stratification, in particular microRNAs emphasizing preanalytical and analytical aspects of microRNA testing
• Biomarkers of atrial fibrillation
• Biomarkers for the early detection of left ventricular hypertrophy