Research on spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) at the Mayo Clinic is a telling example of "patient-initiated" research made possible by social media. Dr Sharonne Hayes discusses with Dr Sharon Mulvagh the genesis of the SCAD project and the tremendous opportunities of the initiative, as well as the challenges posed by this new mode of interaction. Hear more about the powerful role that an online support group can play in finding answers for rare diseases and ultimately how social media can help shape research.