You may have read about the ENHANCE trial designed to determine if a cholesterol lowering drug (ezetemibe) decreases the amount of cholesterol plaque formation in the arteries. The results demonstrated that although the cholesterol was lowered, the amount of plaque formed on the interior of vessel was not. Thus far, the scientific research suggesting that this drug, and another (torcetrapib) that raises the good cholesterol would be of benefit did not translate into a major breakthrough for patient care. Yet other scientific breakthroughs that have gone from the laboratory to clinical care have truly benefited from cooperation between basic scientists and clinicians. Hopefully there will be even more of these efforts that will benefit patient care.