The president-elect of the World Heart Foundation has described a new cardiac health initiative in Galway as a "game changer".
Professor David Wood was speaking ahead of the launch of a new institute which will promote preventive measures to combat cardiovascular disease.
The National Institute for Preventive Cardiology (NIPC) is a collaboration between the Croí charity and NUI Galway. It will focus on encouraging proven approaches to minimise risk and work to influence health policies that aim to cut the incidence of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
Professor Wood said the implications of a community-based approach to cardiovascular disease were far reaching. He said the institute was an "exemplar" to other parts of Ireland and the rest of the world.
The institute will work with those who've been diagnosed with cardiac illness to prevent a recurrence and will also assist those at risk of developing vascular disease.
Professor Wood said taking the focus away from general practice or hospital settings was a new way of dealing with the problem and that research had shown it would be beneficial in bringing about long-term, sustained improvements in health.
As part of the work being undertaked at the NIPC, a Masters programme in Preventive Cardiology is being offered by NUI Galway.
The institute's executive director, Jenni Jones, said this was helping to train people to implement preventive measures in everyday clinical practice.
A day-long conference tomorrow will hear from a panel of international experts on the way in which this approach can benefit public health.
