<p>In 2019 the <em>Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease</em> began a series of Special Issues entitled Leaders in Cardiovascular Research which highlight the work and achievements of outstanding and unique researchers that have made major and often paradigm-shifting contributions to the field. This publication focuses on the many accomplishments of Prof Robert H Anderson who is acknowledged world-wide as the current leading cardiac anatomist and foremost expert on embryonic heart developmental morphology.</p>