About ISH
Background
Established in 1966, the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) is committed to promoting and encouraging the advancement of scientific research and knowledge and its application to the prevention and management of heart disease and stroke in hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases around the world.
The Society was registered as a charity in England and Wales in December 2007 (registered charity number: 1122135).
Vision, Mission, and Values
Vision
Leading the drive towards the global elimination of raised blood pressure and its complications.
Mission
To reduce the global burden of raised blood pressure.
The ISH is dedicated to scientific innovation and advances in medical care in the field of hypertension.
The ISH will endeavour to achieve this philanthropic mission through collaborations, scientific meetings, publications, outreach, and other activities that:
- Raise public awareness of the importance of early recognition and treatment of high blood pressure
- Support, reach out to, and facilitate networking between investigators, teachers, fellows, clinicians and students interested in hypertension and related diseases globally
- Share current knowledge and new discoveries – via the ISH website, the ISH Biennial Scientific Meetings, and various workshops and educational events
- Support research to achieve optimal care of people with hypertension
- Promote multidisciplinary collaborative research
- Encourage, promote and organise postgraduate training and international exchange of investigators, teachers, fellows and students
- Develop a consensus and guidelines on hypertension prevention and treatment
- Advocate patient rights and educate the public as well as medical professionals
- Serve and unite communities
- Provide education and training worldwide; and ultimately
- Reduce the frequency and impact of high blood pressure and its associated conditions
Principles and Values
The International Society for Hypertension (ISH) is founded upon the guiding principles of integrity and diversity of all international societies and charitable organisations.
- Commitment to Excellence
ISH values new knowledge and is committed to excellence in research, education, and patient care in the developed and developing world. - Respect for Expertise
ISH values expertise and the full range of skills and disciplines that are needed for the realisation of its objectives and mission. - Respect for Science
ISH recognises that good healthcare is based on evidence, and that the origins of evidence lie in responsible research and scientific method. - Commitment to Independence from Inappropriate Influence
ISH works for the public good and will not be influenced by commercial or other considerations that are contrary to the interests of people affected by hypertension. - Commitment to Integrity, Openness and Accountability
ISH believes in transparency and honesty, which will characterise all its activities and which are expected of its members and of those with whom it has dealing. - Importance of Membership
ISH recognises the importance of membership for the realisation of its objectives regardless of individuals’ expertise level or nationality.
Structure
ISH has a Council, whose members are also the Trustees of the Charity. Council members are responsible for furthering the aspirations and activities of the ISH, ensuring its efficient running and helping secure its continuity for the future. The Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Society, has a duty of supervising the affairs of the Society, of making the necessary arrangements for the next ISH Biennial Scientific and General Meetings and other scientific activities, of overseeing the work of all committees and working parties, and for giving final consideration for all nominations for membership. Standing committees exist to carry out specific activities and purposes of the Society. An organogram follows to detail the structure of the current Society, committee and working groups.
Members
The ISH is proud to have an active membership of over 1,000 from nearly 80 countries. The Society welcomes applications from trainees, junior and established scientists, clinicians, health care providers and allied health care workers, all with a common interest in hypertension research. Different membership categories are offered for those at varying stages of their careers. These include Professional Members, Emerging Leaders, Research Fellows and Emeritus Fellows. A key goal of the Society is to aid Research Fellows to progress through membership to Emerging Leaders and eventually to Professional Members.
Membership as a Research Fellow comes at no cost for 3 years and reduced membership fees are available for new applicants of the Society who are eligible for the Emerging Leaders membership category or are residents of countries included on the World Health Organisation’s list of HINARI developing countries.
Constitution and Regulation Documents
The current version of the ISH Constitution was adopted in November 2015. Separate policy documents contain the specific rules and regulations governing relevant areas including membership, delegation by the Council of its functions to committees and awards and prizes.
View the constitution and policy documents below.
ISH Constitution (last updated September 2022)
ISH Awards and Prizes Regulations (last updated April 2022)
ISH Committee Policy (last updated November 2015)
ISH Membership Regulations (last updated July 2022)
Equality Statement
The International Society of Hypertension (ISH) is positively committed to opposing discrimination against people on the grounds of gender, race, colour, nationality, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, class, age, disability, having dependants, HIV status or perceived lifestyle.
Regional Advisory Groups (RAGs)
The International Society of Hypertension (ISH) has established Regional Advisory Groups (RAGs) for major regions of the world;
- Africa
- Americas
- Asia Pacific – APAC
- Europe
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
- South and Central Asia (SACA)
Purpose and key areas of responsibility for the RAGs:
To provide ISH representation globally, distil regional issues and encourage and enhance education, good clinical practice and biomedical research in the fields of hypertension and associated cardiovascular diseases.
- Work to represent the interests of their region with the ISH Council.
- Establish effective liaison between the ISH and national and regional societies of hypertension, councils of high blood Pressure Research and cardiac societies in their region.
- Encourage the formation of national hypertension societies (if not established).
- Carry out activities in co-operation with local or regional organisations – as joint activities. These should be endorsed by the ISH and clearly promoted as such.
- Increase the number of people from the region who are members of the ISH to contribute to the mission of the ISH.
- Enhance and increase the engagement of existing ISH members from the region.
- Make the region aware of educational and research opportunities promoted by the ISH in the region and encourage members to participate.
- Liaise with the ISH communications team about initiatives or news from their region.
- Highlight their work once per year in a dedicated article in the Hypertension News journal of the ISH.
- The RAGs should work closely with the ISH Council with a two-way exchange of information. The RAG will report to Council through their Chair, either directly if the Chair is a Council member, or through the nominated Council lead for their RAG.
- Establish government links where possible.
Affiliated Societies
One of the goals of any international society is to represent the interests of its constituents around the world.
The International Society of Hypertension (ISH) has a unique responsibility in this regard, which is achieved in large part through the ISH International Forum and the ISH Regional Advisory Groups (RAGs). The International Forum of the ISH embodies and nurtures the global nature of the ISH and was first established in 1992. Today the International Forum is chaired by Myeong-Chan Cho from South Korea. It is a consultative forum, the mandate of which is to establish effective liaison between the ISH and National Societies of Hypertension or Councils of High Blood Pressure Research. It also provides a unique infrastructure and platform for networking and “cross-talk” between Societies.
An ISH Affiliated Society logo (shown right) has been created for use by national and regional societies in their print and promotional material. Please contact the ISH Secretariat should you wish to receive a copy.
College of Experts
Goals: The main goal of the ISH College of Experts is to support the advancement of knowledge and contribute to global innovation in hypertension research and its translation into clinical practice and policy.
The ISH College of Experts will comprise of globally recognised scientists in hypertension and related fields for the following objectives:
- Play a vital role in writing position papers on led by ISH, as well as contributing to efforts led by partnering professional societies. The papers would focus on cutting-edge topics in hypertension spanning, but not limited to, new drug discovery and development, strategies for implementation of evidence-based hypertension management guidelines in clinical practice and public health, and ways to improve clinical and other meaningful patient-related outcomes.
- Facilitate ways to connect hypertension science with practice and policy.
Provide advice to ISH and serve as a liaison on technical matters and/or communication with government and non-government organizations including professional organizations (NICE, WHO, World Hypertension League, European Society of Hypertension, American Heart Association, KDIGO, and others) for the dissemination of position papers and uptake of recommendations into policy and practice. - Act as or identify and facilitate independent external review of position papers and other documents, just-in-time papers, and policy briefs, to ensure high quality and credibility of all forms and communication by ISH.
- Advise the ISH and other Committees within ISH on research-related matters, global initiatives, funding fellowships, and how such enterprises can optimize society’s benefit.
Our Corporate Members
Companies wishing to become Corporate Members of the ISH should contact the Secretariat for further details. secretariat@ish-world.com
The ISH Council would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following Corporate Members who are participating in the ISH and therefore helping to promote the advancement of scientific research and knowledge in hypertension and associated cardiovascular diseases.
ISH Current and Past Presidents
| Bryan Williams | UK | 2022-2024 |
| Maciej Tomaszewski | UK | 2020-2022 | Alta Schutte | South Africa / Australia | 2018-2020 |
| Neil Poulter | UK | 2016-2018 |
| Rhian M Touyz | UK | 2014-2016 |
| Ernesto L Schiffrin | Canada | 2012-2014 |
| Stephen Harrap | Australia | 2010-2012 |
| Tony Heagerty | UK | 2008-2010 |
| Lars H Lindholm | Sweden | 2006-2008 |
| Michael H Alderman | USA | 2004-2006 |
| Lawrence J Beilin | Australia | 2002-2004 |
| Albert Mimran | France | 2000-2002 |
| Karl-Heinz Rahn | Germany | 1998-2000 |
| Jay N Cohn | USA | 1996-1998 |
| Kikuo Arakawa | Japan | 1994-1996 |
| John Chalmers | Australia | 1992-1994 |
| Peter A van Zwieten | Netherlands | 1990-1992 |
| Giuseppe Mancia | Italy | 1988-1990 |
| John H Laragh | USA | 1986-1988 |
| Lennart Hansson | Sweden | 1984-1986 |
| Austin E Doyle | Australia | 1982-1984 |
| James O Davis | USA | 1980-1982 |
| Alberto Zanchetti | Italy | 1978-1980 |
| James Ian S Robertson | Italy | 1976-1978 |
| Franz Gross | Germany | 1970-1976 |
| Irvine H Page | USA | 1966-1970 |
;
