THE AORTA: STRUCTURE TO RUPTURE 2026 PROGRAMME



June 3rd 2026

Time Session Faculty
09.00 - 09.30 Registration and Coffee
09.30 - 09.35 Welcome and Introduction Dr. Riaz Akhtar
09.35 - 09.45 Cardiovascular Sciences of Liverpool Professor Louise Kenny


Session 1 : 09:45 – 11:00 – Aorta and Biomechanics                                            

Chair: Dr. Riaz Akhtar 

Time Session Faculty
09.45 - 10.10 Biomechanics as a Tool for Clinical Translation Professor Gerhard Holzafel
10.10 - 11.00 Early Career Researchers Accepted Talks
11.00 - 11.20 Morning Coffee and Poster Viewing


Session 2 : 11:20 – 12:30 – Aortic Biomarkers

Chair:  Professor Mark Field                           

Time Session Faculty
11.20 - 11.40 AortaBank and the Priority Setting Partnership Dr. Riaz Akhtar and Dr. Jill Madine
11.40 - 12.30 Early Career Researchers Accepted Talks


Session 3 : 12:30 – 13:00 – PPIE Session and Translation Funding                         

Chair: Professor John Elefteriades

Time Session Faculty
12.30 - 12.50 The Work of the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust Ms. Catherine Fowler
PPIE : Patient’ Perspective – Ms. Barbara Emanuel
12.50 - 13.00 Obituary – Dr. Ian Brunell Professor Paul Chalker and Dr. Riaz Akhtar
13.00 - 13.45 Lunch and Posters Viewing


Session 4 : 13:45 – 15:15 – Novel and Emerging Approaches 

Chair: Dr. Jillian Madine

Time Session Faculty
13.45 - 14.05 PET Imaging for the Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms Dr. Alex Fletcher
14.05 - 15.15 Early Career Researchers Accepted Talks
15:15 - 15:30 Afternoon Tea and Poster Viewing


Session 5 : 15:30 – 17:00 – Aortic Genetics      

Chair: Mr. Attilio Lotto

Time Session
15.30 - 16.30 The Kenny Cruickshank Lecture: Clinical and research aspects of Loeys-Dietz Syndrome
Professor Kenny Cruickshank introduced by Dr. Thomas Weber
Panel: Professor Barts Loeys and Professor Hal Dietz – introduced by Professor Duke Cameron
16.30 - 17.00 Early Career Researchers Accepted Talks
17.00 - 17.05 Closing Remarks by Professor Mark Field