Technologies of coronary plaque characterization, knowledge of risk factors of coronary events, medical therapy and strategies for coronary revascularization have continuously advanced and led to improvement in the prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease. Such advancements have been achieved by randomized clinical trials and basic studies. However, the prognosis of severe coronary artery disease is still poor, and recent surveys have shown that 7.4 million people globally and more than 70,000 people in Japan die each year from coronary artery disease. To further improve the prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease, possible therapeutic targets in not only coronary plaque but also in microcirculation, cardiomyocytes, tissue repair process, and vascular response to coronary intervention are being explored. Promising targets for novel therapy, including newly uncovered mechanisms of cell death called necroptosis and ferroptosis, have been emerged. In addition, promising findings have been reported for novel methodologies of therapeutic interventions, including application of microRNA, drug delivery systems and non-pharmacological interventions such as remote preconditioning. In the present plenary session, translational research targeting the coronary artery or myocardium for coronary artery disease will be presented for discussion of future perspectives.