It was wonderful to see the vision of The Baird Institute come to life at our inaugural Aortic Surgery and Heart Failure Symposium: Heart by Design – Translating the Science, held over two inspiring days on the 18 and 19 September.
The Symposium brought together leading clinicians, surgeons, researchers and scientists from across Australia and around the world, creating a unique opportunity to share discoveries, challenge ideas and explore how research can translate into better outcomes for patients with heart and aortic disease.
We were particularly delighted to welcome our international speakers, Professor William Pu from Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Professor Michael Fischbein from Stanford University. Their expertise in heart failure, cardiac regeneration and aortic surgery added an important international perspective to the program. We were also joined by leading interstate experts, including Professor David Kaye from The Alfred Hospital and Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne and Professor Alistair Royse from The Royal Melbourne Hospital and the University of Melbourne.
The first day focused on innovation, evidence and the growing role of artificial intelligence in surgical research. Discussions explored how clinical trials and registries can improve surgical practice, how new technologies can support research, and the opportunities and challenges presented by AI. The second day turned to some of the most exciting areas of cardiovascular research, including precision aortic surgery, early detection of aortic disease, the biology of aneurysms, heart failure and cardiac regeneration. Researchers and clinicians shared their latest findings and considered how advances in science could ultimately lead to more personalised treatment and better outcomes for patients.
The Friday evening cocktail event provided a wonderful opportunity to continue these conversations in a more relaxed setting, while a tour of the Hybrid Theatre and introduction to the MRI facility gave our guests a glimpse into the innovative environment in which much of this work takes place.
Importantly, the Symposium was not just about sharing research. It was about bringing people together. Researchers from different disciplines, clinicians and surgeons, established leaders and emerging researchers had the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and explore new collaborations. Our emerging research leaders also had the chance to present their work alongside some of the leading experts in their fields.
The Symposium was a great success, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.
Our sincere thanks go to our Gold Sponsor, Edwards Lifesciences, and our Silver Sponsors, Baxter, Device Technologies and AstraZeneca, for their generous support. We are also very grateful to Fernando Calamante, and Simon Ringer and their team at Sydney Imaging at the University of Sydney, for supporting our Friday evening cocktail event and the Advancement Office at the University of Sydney for supporting our Saturday program.
Events like this are an important part of building a stronger future for cardiovascular research. Your support helps The Baird Institute bring talented researchers together, encourage collaboration and turn promising discoveries into new possibilities for patients.
We look forward to seeing where the conversations and collaborations sparked by Heart by Design will lead next.
