KSMA Joins an International Franco–Central Asian Cardiology Development Program

The I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy (KSMA) has become one of the key participants in a regional international cardiology cooperation program bringing together France, Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic. The project is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs under the Le Fonds Équipe France (FEF) program and aims to strengthen medical, scientific, and educational cooperation among the participating countries.

The program will run for nearly two years and includes a comprehensive range of activities designed to enhance specialist training, promote scientific research, introduce advanced cardiology technologies, and strengthen international academic partnerships.

The project will feature international symposiums, master classes, conferences, study visits, and professional fellowships in France for physicians, faculty members, researchers, and medical residents. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing expertise in interventional cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology, heart failure, pediatric cardiology, cardiovascular diseases in women, and the prevention and management of sudden cardiac arrest.

Strengthening scientific collaboration is one of the program's major priorities. Healthcare professionals and researchers from Kyrgyzstan will have the opportunity to undertake research fellowships at leading French institutions, including the Georges Pompidou European Hospital (HEGP) and the Inserm U970 – Paris Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC). Participants will conduct joint research on key topics in contemporary cardiology, including cardiovascular diseases in women, rare vascular disorders, cardiac electrophysiology, and sudden cardiac death.

The program also includes initiatives aimed at improving national strategies for cardiac arrest management. Planned activities include assessing the existing infrastructure of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), developing digital solutions for locating and using AEDs, organizing public awareness campaigns, and strengthening cooperation between healthcare professionals, government authorities, and civil society.

Another important component of the project will be joint French-Kazakh-Kyrgyz master classes on cutting-edge technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including innovative mechanical circulatory support devices and novel cardiac pacing techniques. In addition, leading French cardiologists and cardiac surgeons will visit Kyrgyzstan to deliver lectures, conduct clinical case discussions, and participate in professional exchange activities.

The scientific leadership of the program is provided by two internationally recognized French experts. Professor Éloi Marijon, a world-renowned cardiologist specializing in sudden cardiac death, serves as Professor at Université Paris Cité, the Georges Pompidou European Hospital (AP-HP), and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM). He is joined by Professor Lionel Lamhaut, Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at Université Paris Cité, an internationally recognized expert in cardiac arrest management and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

KSMA's participation in this international initiative will create new opportunities for the professional development of faculty members and physicians, foster high-impact scientific research, facilitate the introduction of advanced medical technologies, and strengthen long-term cooperation with leading medical and research institutions in France and Kazakhstan.

The implementation of the project will make a significant contribution to the development of cardiology services in the Kyrgyz Republic, the training of highly qualified healthcare professionals, and the improvement of the quality of medical care provided to patients with cardiovascular diseases.