Breakfast Session: HLC 2026: Special focus issues
Tracks
Track 3
| Sunday, August 9, 2026 |
| 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM |
| Cockle Bay 2 |
Speaker
Prof Salvatore Pepe
Professor
Murdoch Children's Research Institute / Royal Children's Hospital
Special issues – a team effort
7:30 AM - 7:40 AMBiography
Prof Salvatore Pepe is Editor in Chief of Heart Lung and Circulation and the co-Leader of the Heart Research Group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. His research is focused on safe translation of cell therapy protocols to augment cardiac intervention outcomes, targeting inflammation and fibrosis, and other adverse cardiac remodelling in myocardial injury, heart failure, and perioperative complications of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.
Prof Caleb Ferguson
Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow
University of Wollongong
Advancing cardiogeriatric care and frailty science in cardiovascular disease
7:40 AM - 8:05 AMBiography
Professor Caleb Ferguson RN PhD is a Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow and Director of the Centre for Chronic & Complex Care Research at Blacktown Hospital, a collaborative research partnership between University of Wollongong & Western Sydney LHD. He leads a program of research in cardio-geriatric care and frailty science. He is current Chair of the CSANZ Cardiovascular Nursing Council and Cardiovascular Nursing Section Editor for Heart, Lung & Circulation.
Dr Dion Candelaria
Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Sydney
Strengthening cardiovascular rehabilitation for lifelong health
8:05 AM - 8:30 AMBiography
Dr Dion Candelaria is a clinical nurse and a Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney. He is the incoming President of the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association (ACRA). Dion is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology.
Prof Salvatore Pepe
Professor
Murdoch Children's Research Institute / Royal Children's Hospital
Chairperson
Biography
Prof Salvatore Pepe is Editor in Chief of Heart Lung and Circulation and the co-Leader of the Heart Research Group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. His research is focused on safe translation of cell therapy protocols to augment cardiac intervention outcomes, targeting inflammation and fibrosis, and other adverse cardiac remodelling in myocardial injury, heart failure, and perioperative complications of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.
