Great success at the Female Heart Workshop 2025

This year’s program focused on sex differences in valvular heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and how multiomics can contribute to a better understanding of these differences.

Professor Patricia Pellikka from the Mayo Clinic, who is also Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Echocardiography, opened the workshop with a state-of-the-art lecture on sex differences in aortic valve stenosis. Associate Professor Dana Cramariuc presented her groundbreaking research on left atrial function and mitral regurgitation—another type of heart disease that disproportionately affects women. Hypertension is a particularly important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women.

Professor Tom Guzik delivered a Zoom lecture on sex differences in the interplay between inflammation and hypertension. From the Center, Postdoctoral Fellow Ester Kringeland presented her hypertension research based on data from the Hordaland Health Study, and Associate Professor Liv Kvalvik shared findings from her research on how pregnancy complications contribute to increased cardiovascular risk later in life for these women.

Obesity is becoming increasingly common and is emerging as one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Endocrinologist and researcher Claudia Coelho updated us on key sex differences in obesity-related complications and the effects of new treatment options. Professor Simon Dankel contributed mechanistic insights related to metabolic and epigenetic regulation of adipose tissue.

From our collaboration with COST Action AtheroNET, Professor Susana Novella from the University of Valencia gave a lecture on sex differences in microRNAs related to heart disease, and researcher Brooke Wolford from NTNU presented her analyses from the HUNT study on the use of polygenic risk scores in assessing the risk of coronary artery disease.

The workshop concluded with excellent updates and strong abstract presentations from junior researchers, followed by engaging discussions and interactions with leading experts.