Weinstein Cardiovascular Development and Regeneration Conference

About This Grant

ABSTRACT This NHLBI, R13 grant application is to seek partial funding for the 2026 Weinstein Cardiovascular Development and Regeneration Conference in the New York City area, in Jersey City, New Jersey on May 6-8. This conference originated in 1986 as an RFA from Dr. Constance Weinstein at the NHLBI to bring together basic and clinical researchers working in cardiovascular developmental biology and congenital heart disease. Due to its great success, and after the retirement of Dr. Weinstein, the meeting was named the Weinstein Cardiovascular Development Conference, and it was held each year since, and the 2026 Conference will be the 40th year that the conference has been ongoing. With the expansion of technologies and new concepts in biomedical sciences, the field of cardiac regeneration blossomed and because of this, the conference name was modified to be called the Weinstein Cardiovascular Development and Regeneration Conference. Usually there are 350-400 attendees, split evenly between trainees that consist of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and faculty, at all stages of their careers. The topics are timely and are chosen in large part by the hottest science as identified from the typical, 200-220 submitted abstracts about 2-3 months before the conference. Session topics typically include cardiovascular stem cell models with tissue engineering, heart fields and embryonic morphogenesis, cardiomyocyte development and function, valves and cardiac conduction, genetics of congenital heart disease, heart regeneration, and epigenetic changes during development and disease. In addition to the scientific focus, one of the most unique aspects of the conference is that all the oral talks, besides the two keynote lectures, is given by trainees and early career faculty, selected from submitted abstracts a few months before the meeting. This meeting is well-known for its collegiality and for providing opportunities to impart new knowledge on all attendees, as well as to the next generation of leaders in our field. Our aims are to 1) provide a collegial environment for sharing of innovative and unpublished scientific findings in the cardiovascular field, 2) to increase our understanding of the etiology and genetics of congenital heart disease, explore the developmental mechanisms and regenerative therapies and 3) to .enhance the professional development of a diverse array of trainees by providing a platform for the presentation of their data and an opportunity to network and interact with established cardiovascular researchers. The Weinstein Conference has a mission that directly aligns with the goals and mission of the NHLBI and financial support will make it more feasible for trainees to attend and participate and interact with established faculty to improve health of individuals with human congenital and cardiovascular diseases.