Research Portal
From undiagnosed to optimally treated.
The technology to detect coronary artery disease before symptoms arise exists. So do treatments that halt progression and, in some cases, reverse it. This portal covers the full decision sequence — detection, diagnosis, treatment, system navigation, and long-term optimization — so you can evaluate your options and advocate for the care you need.
Lifetime Access Includes
Independent research across every stage of the decision sequence.
- Diagnostic options explained: CAC, CCTA, stress testing, cardiac cath, MRI, PET
- The biomarkers most doctors don't order: ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP — and what they mean
- Treatment evidence: statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, ezetimibe, icosapent ethyl
- System navigation: gatekeepers, coverage and reimbursement, and the regulatory landscape
Medical Disclaimer
This website provides educational information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace the guidance of a qualified physician. Treatment decisions should always be made in consultation with your doctor.
Most people discover coronary artery disease in an emergency room. It doesn't have to work that way.
There is a specific sequence of decisions that separates people who catch this disease early from people who find out too late. The technology exists. The treatments exist. What has never existed — until now — is a single resource that maps every step from detection through long-term optimization.
Step 1
Detect what standard care misses.
The tests that find subclinical disease — CAC scoring, CT angiography, ApoB, Lp(a) — are available today. Most doctors don't order them. The portal explains which tests to request, when, and why — so you can push for detection while the window for intervention is widest.
Step 2
Turn a finding into a definitive diagnosis.
A calcium score is a starting point, not an endpoint. What comes next — CCTA, cardiac catheterization, IVUS, cardiac MRI — depends on what the first test reveals. The portal maps the diagnostic decision tree so you know what to expect, what to ask for, and what each result means.
Step 3
Build an aggressive, evidence-based treatment plan.
Guideline-minimum care and optimal care are not the same thing. The portal covers the full treatment landscape — high-intensity statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, ezetimibe, icosapent ethyl, and emerging therapies — with evidence from major trials (FOURIER, REDUCE-IT, ISCHEMIA, GLAGOV) so you can evaluate what your physician prescribes against what the research supports.
Step 4
Navigate the system that stands between you and optimal care.
Insurance denials, specialist access, coverage gaps, and cost traps are not side issues — they are the primary obstacles between diagnosis and treatment. The portal includes insurance appeal strategies, specialist directories, self-pay cost guides, and coverage notes for every major test and medication.
Step 5
Sustain and optimize for the long term.
Diagnosis and initial treatment are the beginning. Long-term monitoring, biomarker targets, lifestyle evidence, and emerging research on plaque regression define whether treatment merely slows disease or reverses it. The portal covers the practices and evidence that bridge clinical care and daily life.
The knowledge exists
It has never been assembled in one place.
CAD is the default, not the exception
Coronary artery disease begins in the teenage years and progresses silently for decades. 42% of asymptomatic adults aged 50–64 have detectable atherosclerosis on CT angiography. 45% of sudden cardiac deaths occur in people who were never diagnosed. The relevant question is not whether disease is present — it's whether anyone is looking for it.
Detection tools exist that standard care doesn't use
ApoB measures the particles that actually drive atherosclerosis — standard lipid panels don't. Lp(a), a genetic risk factor present in 1 in 5 people, is almost never ordered. CAC scoring detects calcified plaque for under $150. CT angiography reveals soft plaque, stenosis, and high-risk features that no stress test will find. These tests are available. They are simply not part of routine care.
Treatments that halt and reverse disease exist. Most patients never receive them.
Aggressive LDL lowering with PCSK9 inhibitors has demonstrated plaque regression in clinical trials. Icosapent ethyl reduced cardiovascular events by 25% in REDUCE-IT. High-intensity statin therapy is the evidence-based standard — yet many patients remain on moderate-intensity regimens or never reach target LDL. The gap between what is possible and what is prescribed is enormous.
Scope
12 topic hubs. 216+ research pages. One continuous path.
The portal is not a collection of articles. It is structured around the decisions you will actually face — organized so that each section builds on the one before it.
12
Topic hubs
Detection, diagnosis, biomarkers, medications, procedures, system navigation
216+
Research pages
Plain-English explainers grounded in peer-reviewed evidence
$0
Ongoing cost
One-time purchase, lifetime access, updated as evidence evolves
What's inside
Navigate every stage of care.
The portal is organized around the decisions you actually face — not a textbook outline.
Detect disease before symptoms appear.
CAD starts in your 20s and progresses silently for decades. 42% of asymptomatic adults aged 50–64 have detectable atherosclerosis on CT angiography — almost none would qualify for imaging under current guidelines. Tests like calcium scoring (CAC), CT angiogram (CCTA), ApoB, and Lp(a) can reveal disease while there is still time to act. The portal explains when to request each test, what the results mean, and what to do next.
Not every test is right for every situation.
CAC, CCTA, cardiac MRI, PET, and cardiac catheterization each answer different clinical questions. A CAC score of zero is reassuring — but still misses soft plaque in 5–9% of patients. CCTA is 93% accurate but uses contrast. Stress tests are widely ordered but miss substantial disease. Understanding the tradeoffs — accuracy, radiation, cost, invasiveness — lets you push for the right test at the right time.
Treatment is a layered decision, not a single prescription.
Every 39 mg/dL reduction in LDL reduces major cardiovascular events by 22% — with no threshold where the benefit stops. High-intensity statins are the foundation. Ezetimibe adds 15–25% further reduction. PCSK9 inhibitors can push LDL below 40 mg/dL — the level at which the GLAGOV trial showed plaque regression in two-thirds of patients. Icosapent ethyl (pure EPA) reduced events another 25% in REDUCE-IT. The portal maps what the evidence says for each option and how to build the right stack for your situation.
Monitoring and follow-up are where plans succeed or fail.
Plaque regression is achievable — but requires reaching and sustaining very low LDL levels over years. ASTEROID and SATURN trials showed regression on high-intensity statins. GLAGOV showed regression in 67% of patients on evolocumab plus statin, with LDL at 36.6 mg/dL. The portal covers how to monitor progress through blood markers and imaging, how to tell when treatment is working, and how to push for adjustment when it isn't.
The system has financial incentives that may not align with yours.
CAC scoring runs $75–150 at independent imaging centers. Advanced lipid panels (ApoB, Lp(a), hsCRP) run $75–200 through direct-to-consumer labs. PCSK9 inhibitors cost over $5,000/year at list price — but nearly half of initial insurance denials are overturned on appeal, and manufacturer assistance programs reduce out-of-pocket substantially. The ISCHEMIA trial showed stents don't reduce events in stable disease vs. optimal medical therapy. The portal flags what's worth fighting for — and what isn't.
How it's structured
Every hub maps the full landscape of its topic — not a single perspective.
Ecosystem maps
Each hub covers the full landscape of a topic — what tests exist, what they measure, how they compare, and what high-risk features to watch for. CAC, CCTA, cardiac MRI, PET, catheterization: you'll understand what each one tells you and what it doesn't.
Decision frameworks
Not just what a drug or test is — but when it's the right choice and when it isn't. High-intensity vs. moderate-intensity statins. PCSK9 inhibitors vs. ezetimibe. Stenting vs. optimal medical therapy. Built around the decisions you will actually face.
Cost and coverage notes
CAC scoring runs $75–150 at independent imaging centers. Advanced lipid panels run $75–200 through direct-to-consumer labs. PCSK9 inhibitor denials are overturned on appeal more often than most patients realize. The portal flags where money gets wasted — and what is genuinely worth fighting for.
Credibility
Independent
No affiliations with providers, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, or device manufacturers.
Evidence-based
Content is grounded in peer-reviewed research and current clinical guidelines — not opinion or anecdote.
Updated over time
Guidelines change and new treatments emerge. Lifetime access includes updates as the landscape evolves.
What members say
"I went into my cardiology appointment knowing exactly which questions to ask about my CAC score. My cardiologist seemed surprised — in a good way."
— Member, 58
"I had no idea PCSK9 inhibitors existed until I found this portal. My LDL is now lower than it's been in 20 years."
— Member, 64
"The cost and coverage section alone was worth the price. I avoided a test my insurance wouldn't have covered and got a better one instead."
— Member, 51
Research Portal
Lifetime access
$197
- All 12 topic hubs: CAC, CCTA, cath, MRI, PET, IVUS, statins, PCSK9i, EPA, ApoB, Lp(a), nattokinase
- Evidence from major trials: FOURIER, REDUCE-IT, ISCHEMIA, GLAGOV, and others
- System navigation: insurance appeals, specialist directories, self-pay cost guides
- Lifetime access — updated as guidelines and evidence evolve
- Magic link login — no password, no app
Frequently asked questions
What is the Research Portal? ▼
A structured, evidence-based resource that maps the complete path from undiagnosed coronary artery disease through detection, diagnosis, aggressive treatment, and long-term optimization. It covers diagnostics, biomarkers, medications, procedures, and system navigation — organized around the decisions you actually face.
Who is it for? ▼
People who want to take an active role in their cardiovascular health — especially those who suspect they may have undetected risk, have received an initial finding like a CAC score, or feel their current treatment doesn't reflect the full evidence. It is built for people who plan ahead, not people waiting for a crisis.
Is this medical advice? ▼
No. This is educational content grounded in peer-reviewed research. It is designed to help you understand the evidence and have more informed conversations with your physicians. Treatment decisions should always be made with your doctor.
How does access work? ▼
One-time purchase, lifetime access. You log in with a magic link sent to your email — no password, no app required.
What happens after I purchase? ▼
You receive immediate access to all 12 topic hubs and 216+ research pages. A magic link is sent to the email you provide.
Can this portal help me prepare for a cardiology appointment? ▼
Yes. Members consistently report that the portal helps them ask better questions, understand their results, and evaluate treatment options before and after appointments.
Is the content updated over time? ▼
Yes. Guidelines change and new evidence emerges. Lifetime access includes all future updates.
What if I already work with a cardiologist? ▼
The portal is designed to complement clinical care, not replace it. Even patients with established cardiology relationships benefit from understanding the broader evidence landscape — especially in areas where guidelines lag the research or where treatment options go undiscussed.