Heliyon is an open access journal developed to more readily facilitate publication of manuscripts that report scientifically accurate and valuable research which has been produced under strict ethical and scientific publishing standards. Accessibility through timely, open publication, and high quality of scientific and ethical rigour in the research are primary foundations of Heliyon. In this era of digital information and pandemic crises, evidence-based knowledge and its wider context are paramount. There is a lot of important clinical and basic cardiovascular research that is not readily able to be accessed when authors are navigating many journals over long periods before eventual publication. The hurdles of ground-breaking novelty are only surmounted after extensive work in careful long-term assessment and analysis of regular clinical practice and hypothesis-driven investigation. The knowledge derived from that journey is as critical as the final breakthrough. Researchers with diverse backgrounds are often able to recognise significance and develop new insights and concepts in the data reported by other groups more readily. Subsequent development of new ideas, approaches and technologies occurs after careful definition of current gaps, shortcomings and arising clinical questions. Thus, having a full picture of the diverse breadth of research, including what hasn't worked, and can or cannot be readily validated, is vital. With this perspective in mind Heliyon Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine is a section of Heliyon dedicated to facilitating publication of valuable output across the spectrum of cardiology research, including but not limited to: cardiovascular physiology, cardiovascular disorders, cardiac surgery and cardiological interventional practice, rhythm disorders, heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Heliyon Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine welcomes a variety of article types, including original research, systematic reviews, case reports, negative results, incremental advances and preliminary findings, and replication studies. It has been a privilege to contribute to the establishment of Heliyon from its earliest days, and now as Section Editor of Heliyon Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine Research. As a clinical scientist working extensively with clinical cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, intensive care physicians and various other specialists and research scientists, I have greatly valued the critical importance of diverse specialist teams in fundamental and clinical research. This section is now fortunate to have a growing Associate Editor team of experts across clinical and scientific specialties within cardiology and across continents. We invite your interest to participate as authors, reviewers and as members of our team. The vision of our section is to feature rigorously performed clinical and scientific original research and other reports that provide a valuable resource to clinicians and researchers to develop and advance cardiology practice, research and education. Salvatore Pepe: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.