Sydney Cardiovascular Symposium 2026 Program
Thursday 29th October
08:15-10:15 Session 1: Symposium Opening Session
08:30-9:00 Coffee and registration
09:00-09:10 Welcome to Country
09:10-09:35 Symposium Opening / Welcome - Professor Anushka Patel, The George Institute for Global Health
09:35-10:20 Sydney Cardiovascular Symposium Lecture -Associate Professor Nitesh Nerlekar, Monash University
10:20-10:40 Morning Tea
10:40-12:00 Session 2: Acute Coronary Syndromes
10:40-11:00 Sex differences in CAD, Prof Jason Kovacic, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
11:00-11:20 Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), Dr Lucy McGrath-Cadell, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
11:20-11:40 TBC
11:40-12:00 Sex differences in response to ischaemia and ASIC1a inhibition, Dr Sanjay Dutta, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:30-13:30 Poster Judging Session
13:30-15:00 Session 3: Cardio-kidney-metabolic disease
13:30-13:50 Innovations in Clinical Trials, Associate Professor, Sradha Kotwal, The George Institute for Global Health
13:50-14:20 Pharmacotherapy – sex differences in drug response, Professor Sophia Zoungas, The George Institute for Global Health
14:10-14:40 Early-to-Mid Career Flash Talks
14:40-15:00 TBC
15:00-15:15 Afternoon Tea
15:15-16:15 Session 4: Heart Failure
15:15-15:35 Sex differences in cardiac cellularity, Associate Professor Alex Pinto, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
15:35-15:55 TBC
15:55-16:15 Menopause and heart failure, Associate Professor Kavitha Muthiah, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney
16:15-17:00 Session 5: Interactive Workshop: CVD Sex Differences and AI
17:00 Networking and drinks
Friday 30th October
08:15-10:15 Session 1: Equity, Inclusion and Access
08:30-9:00 Coffee and registration
9:00-9:20 Sex differences in First Nations CVD care and outcomes, Associate Professor Julieann Coombes, The George Institute for Global Health
9:20-09:40 Sex Differences in Stroke, Dr Ignacia Allende, The George Institute for Global Health
09:40-10:00 TBC
10:00-11:00 Session 2: Electrophysiology and Sudden Cardiac Death
10:00-10:20 The Athlete Heart, Associate Professor Jessica Orchard, The University of Sydney
10:20-10:40 SCD in untrained males, Professor André La Gerche, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research
10:40-11:00 Sudden death outcomes, Dr Julia Isbister, Montreal Heart Institute, Canada
11:00-11:20 Morning Tea
11:20-13:00 Session 3: Hormones and the Heart
11:20-11:40 Endothelial Health in Menopause, Professor Mary Kavurma, Heart Research Institute
11:40-12:00 Anabolic Steroids and the Heart, Associate Professor Eoin O’Dwyer, Macquarie University, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Northern Beaches Hospital
12:00-12:20 Pregnancy and Congenital Heart Disease, Professor Rachael Cordina, Heart Research Institute, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
12:20-12:40 Sex differences in cardiac metabolomics, Dr Yen Chin Koay, The University of Sydney
12:40-13:00 Early-to-Mid Career Flash Talks
13:00-14:00 Lunch
Session 4: Rising Start Presentations
14:00-14:20 Selected from applicants
14:20-14:40 Selected from applicants
14:40-15:00 Selected from applicants
Session 5: Cardio-oncology
15:00-15:20 CV risk associated with cancer therapies, Professor Aaron Sverdlov, University of Newcastle
15:20-15:40 Impacts of exercise in cancer patients, Associate Professor Erin Howden, UNSW, Sydney
15:40-16:00 Afternoon Tea
16:00-17:15 The Princesses’ Lecture, Professor Julie McMullen, Heart Research Institute
17:15-17:30 Symposium Close, Professor Clare Arnott, The George Institute for Global Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital