Dear Members, Colleagues, and Friends,

Welcome to the Autumn Edition of the newsletter from the ESC Working Group on Coronary Pathophysiology and Microcirculation.

We hope you had a pleasant summer and found time to relax with family and friends. In this edition, we are pleased to share a brief update on our recent activities as well as upcoming opportunities for you to engage with our community.

ESC Congress 2025

ESC Congress 2025, held together with the World Congress of Cardiology, was not only an inspiring scientific journey but also a celebration of the creativity and dedication of young researchers. The Awards Ceremony was a true celebration of young talent, with many emerging researchers being recognised for their contributions. Among them, we warmly congratulate Ms. Tania Rahaman and Dr. Ali Aldujeli, recipients of the ESC Working Groups Awards in Coronary Pathophysiology and Microcirculation. Their insightful sessions are available on ESC 365.

The New Fireside Chat Debuted at ESC Congress 2025 — Engaging, Insightful, Impactful!

At this year’s Congress, Dr. Roxana Mehran joined Dr. Edina Cenko and Dr. Elena Osto in an engaging discussion with the audience to address a crucial question: Does a physician’s sex matter for cardiovascular outcomes?
Together, they explored how equity and inclusion can shape the future of medicine, and why this is not just about fairness, but also about advancing science, improving care, and achieving better outcomes for patients.

The Lancet Regional Health - Europe Series on Inequalities and Disparities in Cardiovascular Health

Despite strong health-care systems, persistent gaps in representation, access, and care continue to drive inequities in cardiovascular health. A new Series in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, chaired by Prof. Raffaele Bugiardini with co-chairs Dr. Martha Gulati and Prof. Chris Gale, examines the structural drivers affecting four high-risk groups — women, racial and ethnic minorities, older adults, and people with mental health conditions —and outlines evidence-based strategies to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Many Working Group members contributed to this Series, which was published simultaneously and presented at ESC Congress 2025 in Madrid.

Watch the presentation on ESC365, and explore the freely accessible articles — read, reflect, and share widely with your community.
•    Angela Maas et al. Changing clinical perspectives on sex and healthcare disparities in ischaemic heart disease 
•    Sonia S. Anand et al. Reducing inequalities in cardiovascular disease: focus on marginalized populations considering ethnicity and race
•    Nick Townsend et al. Challenges in the prevention, treatment and management of cardiovascular disease among older adults
•    Viola Vaccarino et al. Mental health disorders and their impact on cardiovascular health disparities

Ready to take your career to the next level? The 2025 Mobility Travel Grant from our Working Group is now open for applications!

The ESC Working Group on Coronary Pathophysiology & Microcirculation is proud to support this initiative, awarding €2,500 Mobility Travel Grants to two selected early-career researchers. Each grant provides the opportunity to spend at least one month at a European host institution — a unique chance to gain hands-on experience at leading centres while fostering international collaborations and strengthening connections between research institutions across Europe.
Seize this opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate at leading European centres — apply now!

Paper of the month

In this issue of the Newsletter, Prof. Sanja Stankovic (University of Kragujevac) comments on the paper “Assessing the role of polygenic risk scores in cardiovascular risk prediction: a cross-sectional analysis from the Paracelsus 10 000 cohort”. The study showed that integrating polygenic risk scores (PGS) with SCORE2 improved prediction of significant coronary artery calcium, especially in women and younger individuals often underestimated by traditional models. However, despite their promise, PGSs are not yet included in prevention guidelines due to the need for broader validation, cost-effectiveness analyses, and resolution of implementation challenges. Read the full comment here.

Stay tuned on our social media platforms

Follow us on social media for updates, opportunities, and scientific highlights:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13192739/ 
• X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/WGCPMChair

Have suggestions for our activities, want to highlight your research, or contribute to a future newsletter?
Please contact me at edina.cenko2@unibo.it

All my best wishes
Edina 

Dr. Edina Cenko 
Chair, ESC Working Group on Coronary Pathophysiology and Microcirculation