Cardiofrontiers 2026
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Pioneering
advances
in cardiovascular
science.

CardioFrontiers 2026 brings together investigators, trainees, and collaborators from across the cardiovascular research community for four days of scientific exchange at the Texas Medical Center. Covering cardiac development, disease, and regeneration, from fundamental biology to translational and clinical research, the conference will showcase pioneering advances in cardiovascular science, foster the exchange of innovative ideas, and promote collaborative exploration of emerging opportunities and challenges in the field.

When
Sep 11–14, 2026
Where
Texas Medical Center
Register → View Program
CardioFrontiers 2026 — Pioneering Advances in Cardiovascular Science · September 11–14, 2026 · Texas Medical Center, Houston
№ I
Organization

The organizing committee.

Conference Co-Chairs
Brian L. Black, PhD
Professor & Director, Cardiovascular Research Institute
Brian L. Black, PhD
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Jun Wang, PhD, FAHA
Associate Professor, Pediatric Research Center
Jun Wang, PhD, FAHA
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, TX
Local Organizing Committee
Jun-Ichi Abe, MD, PhD
Professor, Cardiology
Jun-Ichi Abe, MD, PhD
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Jiang Chang, MD, PhD, FAPS
Professor and Deputy Director, Center for Genomic and Precision Medicine
Jiang Chang, MD, PhD, FAPS
Texas A&M University
Houston, TX
John P. Cooke, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences
John P. Cooke, MD, PhD
Houston Methodist
Houston, TX
Na Li, PhD
Professor, Medicine
Na Li, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX
Ali J. Marian, MD
Professor of Molecular Medicine and Internal Medicine (Cardiology)
Ali J. Marian, MD
UTHealth Houston
Houston, TX
Mingfu Wu, PhD
Professor of Pharmacology
Mingfu Wu, PhD
University of Houston
Houston, TX
№ II

Featured speakers.

James F. Martin, MD, PhD
Keynote · 2026 Mentor Award Recipient
James F. Martin, MD, PhD
Vivian L. Smith Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine · Director, Cardiomyocyte Renewal Laboratory, Texas Heart Institute
Over a three-decade career, Dr. Martin's lab has redefined how the field understands cardiac regeneration, from uncovering the role of Hippo-YAP signaling in heart muscle growth to advancing gene therapies that reverse heart failure in preclinical models. He is the recipient of the 2026 Mentor Award, presented in recognition of his three decades of discovery and mentorship in cardiovascular medicine.
Eric N. Olson, PhD
Award Introduction & Tribute Remarks
Eric N. Olson, PhD
Founding Chair, Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. Olson and his trainees have uncovered many of the master genetic regulators of heart and muscle development, reshaping the field's understanding of cardiovascular disease. He will introduce the 2026 Mentor Award and offer tribute remarks honoring Dr. Martin's 30-year career in cardiovascular medicine.
Brian Black, PhD
Professor & Director
Brian Black, PhD
Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Benoit Bruneau, PhD
Senior Investigator & Director
Benoit Bruneau, PhD
Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease
San Francisco, CA
Neil Chi, MD, PhD
Professor & Director
Neil Chi, MD, PhD
School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
San Diego, CA
Nicole Duboisalt=
Associate Professor
Nicole Dubois, PhD
Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine
New York, NY
Holger Eltzschigalt=
Professor & Chair & Vice President
Holger Eltzschig, MD, PhD
Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston
Houston, TX
Xi Fangalt=
Associate Professor
Xi Fang, PhD
School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
San Diego, CA
Tony Firullialt=
Professor & Director
Tony Firulli, PhD
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Pharmacology, Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, IN
Guo Huang, PhD
Associate Professor
Guo Huang, PhD
Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Deqiang Lialt=
Principal Investigator
Deqiang Li, MD, PhD
Center for Cardiovascular Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, OH
Jiandong Liualt=
Professor
Jiandong Liu, PhD
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Ning Liualt=
Professor
Ning Liu, PhD
Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX
Timothy McKinseyalt=
Professor & Director
Timothy McKinsey, PhD
School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz
Aurora, CO
Jeffrey Molkentin, PhD
Professor & Executive co-Director
Jeffrey Molkentin, PhD
The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH
Li Qianalt=
Professor & Associate Director
Li Qian, PhD
the McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Paul Riley, PhD
Professor & Chair of Development and Cell Biology
Paul Riley, PhD
Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford
Oxford, England
Chief, Division of Cardiology & Director, Sarver Heart Center
Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD
University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Weinian Shou, PhD
Professor
Weinian Shou, PhD
Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, IN
Deepak Srivastavaalt=
Senior Investigator & President
Deepak Srivastava, MD
Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, CA
Vasanth Vedanthamalt=
Professor
Vasanth Vedantham, MD, PhD
Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Sean Wu, MD, PhD
Professor & Senior Vice Chair for Academic Affairs
Sean Wu, MD, PhD
Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, CA
Zhao Wangalt=
Professor
Zhao Wang, PhD
Department of Diabetes & Cancer Metabolism, City of Hope
Duarte, CA
Rising Stars

Recognizing outstanding graduate students, postdocs, and junior faculty whose work is shaping the next generation of cardiovascular science.

Confirmed Rising Star faculty speakers:

Rich Li, PhD
Assistant Professor, Aging + Cardiovascular Discovery Center
Temple University
Shijie Liu, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Tanner Monroe, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Jeffrey Steimle, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Ge Tao, PhD
Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology
Medical University of South Carolina
Dan Tong, MD, PhD
Department of Internal Medicine/Molecular Biology
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Yang Xiao, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Physiology
Medical College of Wisconsin
Min Zhang, PhD
Assistant Professor
Shanghai Children's Medical Center
Shanghai, China
Mingjie Zheng, PhD
Assistant Professor
Zhejiang University

More than 20 talks will be selected from abstracts.

Submit Abstract →
№ III
Call for Abstracts

Got a finding worth sharing? Graduate students, postdocs, and junior faculty are invited to submit an abstract for CardioFrontiers 2026. More than 20 will be selected for oral talks alongside our featured speakers — no fine print, no complicated portal, just great science.

Oral & Pitch Deadline
August 25, 2026
Poster Deadline
September 1, 2026
Formats
Oral talk & pitch talk
Who Can Apply
Trainees & Faculty
Notification
Rolling, by September 4

To submit your abstract, click here.

№ IV
Location

Texas Medical Center.

Location
Texas Medical Center
Houston, Texas 77030
Host Institutions
Baylor College of Medicine
in partnership with the Texas Heart Institute
UTHealth Houston — McGovern Medical School
Venues
Baylor College of Medicine — Room N315
Sep 12–13
UTHealth Houston — McGovern Medical School, MSB 3.001
Sep 11 & Sep 14
Airports
IAH — George Bush Intercontinental
HOU — William P. Hobby
Transit
METRO Red Line — TMC/Dryden Station
№ V
Scientific Program

The four-day schedule.

Day One · Friday

September Eleven

Early Career & Trainee Symposium · UTHealth, MSB 3.001

12:00 – 12:15 PM
Opening Remarks
12:15 – 1:15 PM
Session 1: Graduate Student Talks
Graduate students — 10-minute award talks & 3-minute pitch talks
1:15 – 2:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Navigating Career Decisions
Faculty panelists share insights on charting a career in cardiovascular science
2:00 – 2:30 PM
Coffee Break
2:30 – 3:30 PM
Session 2: Postdoctoral Talks
Postdocs — 10-minute long talks & 3-minute pitch talks
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Session 3: Early-Career Talks
Early-career faculty — 10-minute long talks & 3-minute pitch talks
4:30 – 6:00 PM
Poster Session
Day Two · Saturday

September Twelve

Tribute Remarks · Keynote · Featured & Selected Talks · BCM, Room N315

8:30 AM
Sessions Begin
Baylor College of Medicine · Room N315
8:30 – 10:00 AM
Session 1
Featured talks: Jeffrey Molkentin, PhD — Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Xi Fang, PhD — University of California, San Diego
Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD — University of Arizona
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Coffee Break
10:30 AM – Noon
Session 2
Featured talks: Brian Black, PhD — University of California, San Francisco
Jiandong Liu, PhD — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Rising Star talks: Rich Li, PhD — Temple University
Ge Tao, PhD — Medical University of South Carolina
Noon – 1:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 – 3:00 PM
Session 3
Featured talks: Deepak Srivastava, MD — Gladstone Institutes
Deqiang Li, MD, PhD — Nationwide Children's Hospital
Rising Star talks: Tanner Monroe, PhD — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Shijie Liu, PhD — Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
3:00 – 3:30 PM
Coffee Break
3:30 – 4:00 PM
Session 4: Special Event
Details TBD
4:00 – 5:30 PM
Session 5: Mentoring Award & Keynote
Chairs: Brian Black, PhD & Jun Wang, PhD
Award Introduction & Tribute Remarks: Eric N. Olson, PhD — UT Southwestern Medical Center
Keynote: James F. Martin, MD, PhD — Baylor College of Medicine
5:30 – 6:00 PM
Break
6:00 PM
Reception Dinner
Day Three · Sunday

September Thirteen

Featured & Selected Scientific Talks · BCM, Room N315

8:30 – 10:00 AM
Session 1
Featured talks: Sean Wu, MD, PhD — Stanford University School of Medicine
Vasanth Vedantham, MD, PhD — University of California, San Francisco
Rising Star talks: Jeffrey Steimle, PhD — Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Dan Tong, MD, PhD — UT Southwestern Medical Center
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Coffee Break
10:30 AM – Noon
Session 2
Featured talks: Benoit Bruneau, PhD — Gladstone Institutes
Ning Liu, PhD — UT Southwestern Medical Center
Rising Star talks: Mingjie Zheng, PhD — Zhejiang University, China
Additional speaker TBD
Noon – 1:30 PM
Lunch
1:30 – 3:00 PM
Session 3
Featured talks: Neil Chi, MD, PhD — University of California, San Diego
Guo Huang, PhD — University of California, San Francisco
Tim McKinsey, PhD — University of Colorado Anschutz
3:00 – 3:30 PM
Coffee Break
3:30 – 4:00 PM
Session 4: Special Event
Details TBD
4:00 – 5:30 PM
Session 5
Featured talks: Tony Firulli, PhD — Indiana University School of Medicine
Li Qian, PhD — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Rising Star talks: Min Zhang, PhD — Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
Diwakar Turaga, MD, PhD — Texas Children's Hospital
Day Four · Monday

September Fourteen

Featured & Selected Scientific Talks · UTHealth, MSB 3.001

8:30 – 10:00 AM
Session 1
Featured talks: Paul Riley, PhD — University of Oxford
Nicole Dubois, PhD — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Weinian Shou, PhD — Indiana University School of Medicine
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Coffee Break
10:30 AM – Noon
Session 2
Featured talks: Holger Eltzschig, MD, PhD — UTHealth Houston
Zhao Wang, PhD — City of Hope
Rising Star talks: Yang Xiao, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin
Xiao Li, PhD — Baylor College of Medicine
Noon
Conference Close

Daily sessions run 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Sep 14 concludes at noon) · All times Central (CT) · Houston, Texas

№ VI
Housing

Where to stay.

Conference Hotel
Houston Marriott Medical Center / Museum District
Group rate: $160.00 USD per night
Last day to book the group rate: Thursday, August 13, 2026.
Book your group rate →
№ VII
Registration

Register for CardioFrontiers.

To register, click here.

Conference Dates
Sep 11–14, 2026
Registration Deadline
September 1, 2026
Abstract Submission
Now Open
Poster Dimensions
4 ft × 4 ft (recommended)
CardioFrontiers 2026

Questions regarding CardioFrontiers 2026 may be directed to cardiofrontiers@gmail.com

© 2026 James F. Martin Lab · Baylor College of Medicine

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