In the second episode of our Special Interviews Series with Institute Directors we invited Dr Alain Tedgui, former Director of the Paris-Centre de Recherche Cardiovasculaire (PARCC, 2009-2018). Dr Tedgui gave us a wonderful overview of the strategies behind the founding of PARRC as a major French scientific institute dedicated to study cardiovascular disease as well as the original plans that were initiated in the 70s for the realization of this novel Institution. Dr Tedgui also explained to us his life and professional journey, coming to France from Algeria as a young boy and progressing to become a highly recognized scientist working on atherosclerosis, which is still the topic that keeps him busy nowadays, despite the fact that he 'officially' retired a few years ago!