Celebrate at ESC Congress 2025!
29 Aug 2025
Celebrate at ESC Congress In 1949, European cardiologists recognised the need for a platform to exchange research and best practices for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Representatives from 14 European countries came together and in August 1950, the European Society of Cardiology was born. “75 years later, we have built a community that we can all be proud of,” says ESC President, Professor Thomas F. Lüscher.
“Here in Madrid, let’s celebrate the amazing progress we have made – the insights into the causes of CVD, the life-saving treatments, the clinical practice guidelines, the educational programmes and the policies we have collectively developed,” he continues. “Let’s also celebrate our extraordinary expansion – we are now a network of 58 National Cardiac Societies and 49 Affiliated Cardiac Societies with more than 100,000 members across the world. We are, in fact, a global society. The ESC aims to share knowledge across borders to improve patients’ lives and in line with this, we have ‘Global Health’ as this year’s spotlight.”
More than 40 sessions are featured in the Global Health Spotlight Track, many of which are taking place in collaboration with international organisations and societies. “These sessions create a unique forum to confront the true global CVD burden, from health inequalities to the impacts of climate change and global conflicts, and to share knowledge to help us build practical, equitable local solutions for the future,” explains Professor Tomasz Guzik, ESC Congress Programme Committee Chair.
“Another notable addition is the New Horizons in Cardiology Track, which showcases transformative advances such as gene editing and mRNA-based therapies to keep our knowledge at the cutting edge,” notes Prof. Guzik. “And the new Cardiometabolic Track reflects how cardiology now extends into broader contexts, addressing the urgent and interconnected challenges of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and their impact globally.” To ensure practice evolves with the latest evidence, three new ESC Guidelines, one Focused Update and one Consensus Statement will be presented and discussed.
This year’s Hot Line sessions include over 40 pivotal trials that have the potential to introduce new therapies, reshape the use of established treatments and expand clinical indications, spanning the full spectrum from heart failure to hypertension. Additionally, Late-Breaking Science sessions provide clinical and translational insights, while the Research Gateway and the new Discovery Pole are jam-packed with 5,853 abstracts and 551 cases. Prof. Guzik also highlights the new Fireside Chats series: “This informal setting is designed to bring the ESC family together, sparking thought-provoking conversations on topics such as ethics, patient advocacy and innovation – taking cardiology beyond the clinic.”
Four days of science, discussions, learning and networking will be further enhanced with a very special visit. “We are deeply honoured to welcome His Majesty King Felipe VI who will deliver a speech during a special session on Monday. As we mark 75 years of advancing cardiovascular science, his presence underscores the importance of our shared mission to improve heart health for all,” concludes Prof. Lüscher.
