Programming – Vascular Discovery 2026

May 13–16, 2026
Hyatt Regency Bellevue | Bellevue, Washington

Vascular Discovery 2026 Schedule-at-a-Glance

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (UTC -7)

Wednesday, May 13 activities
Time	Activity
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.	Vascular Research Initiatives Conference (VRIC) This event is not part of the official Vascular Discovery Scientific Sessions planned by the Program Committee. *Separate registration is required to attend.* Location: Cedar Ballroom
3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.	Vascular Discovery 2026 Registration Opens On-Site Location: Regency Foyer
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.	Poster Session 1 & Reception Location: Grand Ballroom

Thursday, May 14 activities
Time	Activity
7:00 a.m.	Registration Location: Regency Foyer Exhibits Location: Evergreen Foyer
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast Location: Evergreen Foyer
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.	Early Career Training Session 1 This session is open to all attendees but specifically targeted towards early career/student trainee attendees. Location: TBA
8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.	Conference Opening Welcome Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: Peter K. Henke, MD, University of Michigan Isabella Grumbach, MD, PhD, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine 8:00 Welcome Remarks from AHA President Stacey E. Rosen, MD, Northwell Katz Institute for Women’s Health 8:15 Welcome Remarks from the Program Chair Peter K. Henke, MD, University of Michigan
8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.	Plenary Session 1: Hot Topics in Cardiovascular Disease Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: Peter K. Henke, MD, University of Michigan Isabella Grumbach, MD, PhD, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine 8:30 Talk Title: TBA Joseph Wu, MD, PhD, Stanford University 9:00 Talk Title: TBA Zorina S. Galis, PhD, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH 9:30 Keynote Lecture: TBA Peter Libby, MD, Harvard Medical School / Brigham and Women’s Hospital
10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.	Break/Exhibits Location: Evergreen Foyer
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.	Concurrent Session 1a: Thrombosis, Hemostasis, and Lymphatic Biology Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: TBA 10:30 Talk Title: TBA Keith B. Neeves, PhD, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus 10:55 Talk Title: TBA Sanjana Dayal, PhD, University of Iowa 11:20 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:30 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:40 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:50 Oral Abstract: TBA
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.	Concurrent Session 1b: Peripheral Artery Disease, Aortic Aneurysm, and Cerebrovascular Disease Location: Regency Ballroom Moderators: TBA 10:30 Talk Title: TBA Bhama Ramkhelawon, PhD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine 10:55 Talk Title: TBA Scott J. Cameron, MD, PhD, Cleveland Clinic 11:20 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:30 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:40 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:50 Oral Abstract: TBA
12:00 to 1:30 p.m.	PVD Annual Networking and Business Luncheon (OFF-SITE) Ticket is required to attend.
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.	Lunch on your own
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Plenary Session 2: Highlights from the ATVB Journal Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: TBA 1:30 Daniel Steinberg Early Career Investigator Award in Atherosclerosis/Lipoproteins TBA 1:45 Karl Link Early Career Investigator Award in Thrombosis TBA 2:00 Werner Risau Early Career Investigator Award in Vascular Biology TBA 2:15 David A Dichek Mid-Career Investigator Award Lecture TBA 2:30 ATVB Journal Report Ann Marie Schmidt, MD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.	Break/Exhibits Location: Evergreen Foyer
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.	Concurrent Session 2a: Shobha Ghosh Investigator in Training Award Competition & Short Talks Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: A. Phillip Owens III, PhD, University of Cincinnati Hanrui Zhang, PhD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center Shobha Ghosh Investigator in Training Award Competition 3:30 Oral Abstract: TBA 3:45 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:00 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:15 Oral Abstract: TBA Short Talks: 4:30-5:00 TBA
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.	Concurrent Session 2b: Immunology and Inflammation in Vascular Disease Location: Regency Ballroom Moderators: TBA 3:30 Talk Title: TBA Coleen A. McNamara, MD, University of Virginia 3:55 Talk Title: TBA Klaus Ley, MD, Augusta University 4:20 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:30 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:40 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:50 Oral Abstract: TBA
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.	Poster Session 2 & Reception – Sponsored by the ATVB Journal Location: Grand Ballroom

Friday, May 15 activities
Time	Activity
7:00 a.m.	Registration Location: Regency Foyer Exhibits Location: Evergreen Foyer
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast Location: Evergreen Foyer
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.	Early Career Training Session 2 This session is open to all attendees but specifically targeted towards early career/student trainee attendees. Location: TBA
8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.	Plenary Session 3: TBA Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: TBA 8:00 TBA 8:30 TBA 9:00 TBA
9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.	Break/Exhibits Location: Evergreen Foyer
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 3a: Metabolic Disorders and Vascular Diseases Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: TBA 10:00 Talk Title: TBA Rama Natarajan, PhD, City of Hope 10:25 TBA 10:50 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:00 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:10 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:20 Oral Abstract: TBA
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 3b: Vessel Wall Biology and Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction Location: Regency Ballroom Moderators: TBA 10:00 Talk Title: TBA Carlos Fernandez-Hernando, PhD, Yale School of Medicine 10:25 Talk Title: TBA Paul Cheng, MD, PhD, Stanford University 10:50 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:00 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:10 Oral Abstract: TBA 11:20 Oral Abstract: TBA
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.	The Mentor of Women Award Luncheon (Presented by the ATVB Women's Leadership Committee) Ticketed Event. Location: TBA
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.	Lunch on your own
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Plenary Session 4: Early Career Investigator Award Competition: Irvine H. Page Junior Faculty Research Award & Kenneth M. Brinkhous Early Career Investigator Prize in Thrombosis Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: Wayne Orr, PhD, LSU Health Shreveport Esther Lutgens, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic Milka Koupenova, PhD, UMass Chan Medical School Joseph E. Aslan, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University Irvine H. Page Junior Faculty Research Award Competition 1:00 Oral Abstract: TBA 1:15 Oral Abstract: TBA 1:30 Oral Abstract: TBA 1:45 Oral Abstract: TBA Kenneth M. Brinkhous Early Career Investigator Prize in Thrombosis Competition 2:00 Oral Abstract: TBA 2:15 Oral Abstract: TBA 2:30 Oral Abstract: TBA 2:45 Oral Abstract: TBA
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.	Break/Exhibits Location:
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.	Concurrent Session 4a: Lipid Metabolism and Novel Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: TBA 3:30 TBA 3:55 Talk Title: TBA Arif Yurdagul, PhD, LSU Health Shreveport 4:20 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:30 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:40 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:50 Oral Abstract: TBA
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.	Concurrent Session 4b: Genomics, Epigenetics, and Precision Medicine in Vascular Disease Location: Regency Ballroom Moderators: TBA 3:30 Talk Title: TBA Ferhaan Ahmad, MD, PhD, University of Iowa 3:55 Talk Title: TBA Julia J. Mack, PhD, UCLA 4:20 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:30 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:40 Oral Abstract: TBA 4:50 Oral Abstract: TBA
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.	Poster Session 3 & Reception Location: Grand Ballroom
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.	Vascular Discovery Council Celebration (OFF-SITE) Ticket is Required to attend

Saturday, May 16 activites
Time	Activity
7:30 a.m.	Registration Location: Regency Foyer
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.	Continental Breakfast Location: Evergreen Foyer
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.	Plenary Session 5: Council Awards and Recognition Location: Evergreen Ballroom
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.	Break Location: Evergreen Foyer
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.	Plenary Session 6: Invited Lecture Series Location: Evergreen Ballroom Moderators: TBA 9:30 Vascular Discovery Distinguished Lecture: TBA Kiran Musunuru, MD, PhD, MPH, ML, MRA, University of Pennsylvania 10:00 Jeffrey M. Hoeg Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Award for Basic Science and Clinical Research—Sponsored by the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology: TBA 10:30 PVD Mid-Career Award & Lecture –Sponsored by Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease: TBA
11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.	Closing Remarks 11:00 Peter K. Henke, MD, University of Michigan

2026 Speakers

Peter Libby, MD, FAHA

Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Keynote Lecturer

Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
Presentation Title: TBA

More about Dr. Libby

Dr. Peter Libby is a globally recognized leader in cardiovascular medicine, renowned for his groundbreaking research on inflammation and atherosclerosis. He holds the prestigious title of Mallinckrodt Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and serves as Senior Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His work has shaped the field of vascular biology and continues to influence both basic and translational cardiovascular research.

Kiran Musunuru, MD, PhD, MPH, ML, MRA, FAHA

University of Pennsylvania

Vascular Discovery Distinguished Lecture

9:30 a.m., Saturday, May 16, 2026
Presentation Title: TBA

More about Dr. Musunuru

Dr. Kiran Musunuru is an actively practicing cardiologist, dedicated educator, and internationally recognized leader in cardiovascular genetics and gene editing. As the Barry J. Gertz Professor of Translational Research at the University of Pennsylvania, his work focuses on identifying genetic factors that protect against heart disease and translating those discoveries into novel therapies.

He is the recipient of numerous prestigious honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the American Heart Association’s Award of Meritorious Achievement and Joseph A. Vita Award, the Judson Daland Prize from the American Philosophical Society, and the Outstanding Investigator Award from the American Federation for Medical Research. He also received Harvard University’s Fannie Cox Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching.

Dr. Musunuru has served as Editor-in-Chief of Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine and currently sits on the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Advisory Council and the Board of Directors of the American Society of Human Genetics. He is the author of The CRISPR Generation and Genome Editing: A Practical Guide to Research and Clinical Applications, and is co-founder and Senior Scientific Advisor of Verve Therapeutics.

About this Meeting

This 2 ½-day meeting is sponsored by the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, the Peripheral Vascular Disease Council, and the Council on Genomic and Precision Medicine, in cooperation with and the Society for Vascular Surgery's Vascular Research Initiatives Conference.

Vascular Discovery Scientific Sessions will provide unique opportunities to meet with colleagues from around the world with wide-ranging research interests and expertise for the timely exchange of information about new and emerging scientific research in the areas of arteriosclerosis, thrombosis and vascular biology, peripheral vascular disease, vascular surgery research, genomics and precision medicine. We expect a broad representation from many disciplines and encourage young scientists to attend.

See the American Heart Association Policies and Guiding Values (PDF).

Target Audience

The conference will especially appeal to scientists and clinicians interested in:

Allergy and Immunology
Arteriosclerosis
Biochemistry
Biological Sciences
Diabetes and Metabolism
Functional Genomics
Genetics
Hematology
Internal Medicine
Molecular/Cellular Biology
Nutrition
Pathology
Peripheral Artery Disease
Pharmacology
Physiology
Vascular Surgery
Thrombosis
Vascular Biology
Vascular Medicine

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this conference, participants will be able to:

Discuss recent advances and emerging experimental models in ATVB and peripheral vascular diseases that target primary acquired diseases and/or secondary factors contributing to vascular-related disorders.
Summarize findings from recent translational research or clinical trials and the impact for future treatment and/or management of vascular-related disorders.
Describe best practices associated with ATVB scientific research and/or the management of patients with vascular-related diseases.