At the Heart of Innovation: The Inaugural Sarver Heart Center Cardiovascular Research Symposium Sparks Discovery and Collaboration
Winter in Tucson brought more than just enviable weather in 2025: the Sarver Heart Center’s inaugural Cardiovascular Research Symposium, held on February 3-4, 2025, drew participants from across the globe for two days of impactful scientific sessions. Over 120 researchers, clinicians, and trainees gathered to hear from renowned speakers and participate in poster sessions and valuable networking opportunities at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson. This event provided a dynamic forum for experts and early-career investigators alike to share scientific advancements, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations that will shape the future of cardiovascular health.
Throughout the event, attendees participated in six scientific sessions featuring talks from 19 speakers on topics ranging from molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease to novel treatment strategies. Each session provided valuable insights into emerging therapies and translational research, with active discussions among attendees on how to accelerate discoveries from bench to bedside.
The Program
The program, featuring a lineup of dynamic speakers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the University of Arizona, and the Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research in Madrid, included talks on key topics in cardiac regeneration, heart failure, pharmaceutical optimization, cardiac myocyte research, tissue engineering, and translational cardiovascular medicine.
Dean Abecassis shared welcoming remarks at the event's Opening Keynote Session, hosted at the U of A's impressive Health Sciences Innovation Building Forum.
Showcasing Emerging Cardiovascular Research
A key focus of the symposium was providing a platform for early-career researchers and trainees to showcase their work. Authors were invited to submit their research to present at the poster sessions and participate in an abstract competition. This year’s finalists included:
- Rebecca Slepian, a graduate student in the Slepian lab at U of A’s College of Medicine – Tucson
- Marjan Aghajani, a postdoctoral fellow in the Doroudgar lab at U of A’s College of Medicine – Phoenix
- Nikola Sladojevic, PhD, a junior faculty member and basic science researcher in the Liao lab at U of A’s College of Medicine – Tucson
- Kamaldeep Singh, MD, a junior faculty member and clinical science researcher at the U of A’s College of Medicine – Tucson
Dr. Kamaldeep Singh was named the overall winner, earning recognition for outstanding contributions to cardiovascular research and presenting his work to the symposium audience. Dr. Singh's research was co-authored by Sarver Heart Center fellows Alvaro Altamirano Ufion, MD, Khurram Butt, MD, and Jacob Klewer, MD, in collaboration with faculty members Mathew D. Hutchinson, MD, and Julia H. Indik, MD, PhD.
Two poster sessions provided opportunities for attendees to engage in in-depth discussions with presenters, sparking new ideas and potential collaborations across disciplines.
Science in the Sonoran Desert
The symposium included a unique blend of networking events and outdoor activities to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Attendees had the chance to participate in "Hiking with Henk", a guided hike led by Henk Granzier, PhD, exploring the picturesque Sabino Canyon. This excursion provided an opportunity for scientific discussions in an informal setting, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the event.
The symposium also welcomed several exhibitors, who showcased the latest innovations in cardiovascular research and medicine. Among the participating organizations were:
- BridgeBio
- Boehringer-Ingelheim
- The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine
- All of Us Research Program
- Sarver Heart Center Clinical Research
Their involvement underscored the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in advancing cardiovascular medicine and bringing new therapies to patients.
Looking Ahead
The success of this inaugural symposium marks the beginning of an exciting new annual tradition for the Sarver Heart Center. With an overwhelmingly positive response from attendees, we look forward to building on this momentum in 2026, bringing together even more leading experts and trainees to further inform the future of cardiovascular science and medicine.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all speakers, participants, and exhibitors for making this event possible. Stay tuned for announcements on next year’s symposium!
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“First Sarver Cardiovascular Research Symposium shines at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort” | Posted Feb. 11, 2025