Among scientists and doctors, John Canty Jr, MD, might be best known for his successes in translational cardiology research. But outside the laboratory, in his lifelong hometown of Buffalo, NY, he is more likely to be recognized as the father of any one of his 6 children or the grandfather of 9. In a career where many struggle to balance professional and personal life, Canty has managed to find success in both. As Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Canty works to bring research from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside. His work at the translational interface is broadly focused on understanding and treating ischemic heart disease. In fact, his clinical research has helped develop advanced imaging techniques that may prove to be helpful in identifying areas of the heart that experience inadequate blood flow.1,2 Canty’s basic research has defined how the heart adapts to inadequate blood flow. He found that the heart senses decreased oxygen and induces changes at the cellular level to downregulate its function and metabolism. This research demonstrated how the heart is able to protect itself from irreversible damage, providing insight into the molecular basis of a phenomenon known as hibernating myocardium, which was discovered decades ago.3,4 At first, these adaptations to low blood flow seemed entirely beneficial, but Canty came to realize that they could also have dire consequences. Using animal models of hibernating myocardium, Canty found that the regional adaptations could render the heart vulnerable to spontaneous and lethal ventricular arrhythmias.5,6 The work may help to explain why patients with chronic coronary artery disease may die suddenly as their first and only manifestation of heart disease. In a recent conversation with Circulation Research , …