My advice for young researchers: Create an international network!

Many young researchers aim high and would like to become principal investigators (PIs) for international studies or co-authors of international guidelines, but this is not something you are proposed to do without further ado. It takes a lot of networking, often over several years, so it's a good idea to start early. I have been active in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for 25 years and this has been crucial for my research career.

Three pieces of advice for young researchers:

• Present yourself at international conferences 
  A first opportunity to start building a network is when presenting abstracts at international conferences. Take the opportunity to get to know others in the same field of research, especially those who chair sessions. Often offered as well is Speed mentoring, where you can get advice from a leading expert in a certain area.
• Become a member of a professional association 
  By becoming a member of an international professional association, you get direct access to a network. International professional associations can sometimes also offer training that is not available at home. For example, the ESC offers the opportunity to graduate in General Cardiology, which is recognized both by the Swedish Society of Cardiology and in many other EU countries.
• Participate in multicenter studies
  Get in touch with new research areas by participating in multicenter studies. If something catches your particular interest, read everything you can find about it and participate in meetings and groups so that you can contribute to the discussions and so that others can get to know you. Say yes to valuing abstract and help in other ways if you are asked.

This approach has been successful for me. Through the contacts of my former supervisor, Professor Lars Rydén, I become member of the steering committee for a randomized international multicenter study on pacemaker treatment in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

I thereby gained contacts which I then further developed, especially with the University Hospital in Rennes in France and eventually also with university hospitals in England and the US. As a result, I came to lead the MUSTIC study, the first randomized control trial in failure pacing (CRT), together with Professor Daubert from Rennes.

In the MUSTIC study we found that reverse remodeling was one of the mechanisms of action behind CRT. Based on these results, I was able to suggest to the funders that they should invest in a follow-up study, which in turn led to me becoming the principal investigator for the international multicenter study REVERSE. Treatment studies of this kind usually needs to be carried out internationally, which requires both networks and established trust. I had by starting as an investigator been able to create such a platform, and I have continued to build on it since then.

Holding leading positions within the ESC has given me the opportunity to work with issues I am passionate about; the investment in young researchers and the promotion of equality. During my time as vice president, we established the Young Cardiovascular Professionals Committee. In the U.S., I was instrumental in creating an email network for female electrophysiologists that today has more than 500 members. With this network, we can nominate women for lecture and committee assignments and thus reduce the risk of women being overlooked (which has so often been the case), and we recommend each other to open positions. In addition to the professional gains, we have also formed invaluable friendships.

I would warmly recommend anyone who is at the beginning of their career to invest in international collaborations, to spend time building networks and to actively participate in various contexts when the opportunity arises. But don't forget to support others along the way. You are always a mentor for those more junior, and we all have the responsibility to share.

Cecilia Linde, Senior Professor