Cardiovascular disease claims an Australian life every 12 minutes—a stark reminder of why research and collaboration in this field is so critical.
On Thursday 3 July, more than 100 Â鶹Éçmadou researchers, clinicians and students came together at the annual CVMM symposium to share breakthrough insights, forge new partnerships, and strengthen existing collaborations in tackling Australia's biggest killer.
The day started with an Early- and Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) Workshop, run by Dr Carmen Zhang and Professor Maree Hackett. Participants learned practical networking strategies before connecting with senior researchers in a structured session where experienced academics shared their advice and insights.
Professor Alta Schutte, CVMM Theme Lead, opened the main symposium by emphasising the importance of cardiovascular research in Australia and the power of interdisciplinary collaboration within Â鶹Éçmadou and beyond. Â
The opening session explored the landscape of research funding, with insights from Professor Bronwyn Fox AO, Professor Patricia Davidson, Professor Jason Kovacic from Â鶹Éçmadou and Dr Kim Sutherland from NSW Ministry of Health offered valuable guidance on securing research support in an increasingly competitive environment.
Research presentations showcased the breadth of Â鶹Éçmadou's cardiovascular expertise. Professor Emily Wong presented her innovative work on cardiac tissue regeneration, while Professor Ruth Peters shared compelling findings on the connection between blood pressure management and dementia prevention. Sessions covered everything from frailty research to artificial intelligence applications in healthcare. The presentations from A/ Prof Mayooran Namasivayam using AI to tackle heart valve disease and Dr James Bedford’s on the purpose of education in the age of AI were highly engaging and thought provoking.
It was excellent, as were all the presenters.
The symposium concluded with recognition of outstanding work across the community. Jennifer Snaith from the Garvan Institute earned the award for best oral presentation, while The George Institute's Katrina Kissock and Jessica Smith were honoured for their poster presentations. Anupama Thabrew from the Centre for Big Data Research in Health captured the people's choice award.
It was a great day. Great organisation and opportunity for networking.
From the engaging sessions to the vibrant poster presentations and social moments, the 2025 CVMM Symposium was a resounding success—reaffirming Â鶹Éçmadou’s commitment to advancing cardiovascular and metabolic health through collaboration, innovation, and equity.
