‘Dynamic programme’ takes shape for cardiovascular and lipid research event in Crieff this autumn
Registration is now being invited for this autumn’s Scottish Heart & Arterial disease Risk Prevention (SHARP) and Scottish Lipid Forum (SLF) annual meeting — offering ‘a dynamic programme across two inspiring days’
Taking place at the Crieff Hydro Hotel on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 November, the gathering will unite healthcare professionals, researchers, students, and industry partners from across Scotland and beyond.
It will spotlight the latest advancements in cardiovascular and lipid research while providing a platform for meaningful discussion and knowledge exchange.
According to organisers, the meeting offers “a unique opportunity to explore how the latest evidence, data, national policy developments, and research are shaping clinical practice”.
They say it will also provide “an important forum for sharing experiences, strengthening professional networks, and encouraging collaboration across primary and secondary care”.
This year's programme is being developed by Chair of SHARP, Professor Mary Joan MacLeod, and Chair of the Scottish Lipid Forum, Dr Rosemary Clarke, alongside the SHARP Executive Committee, with contributions from trustees to create a varied and engaging programme.
The SHARP programme will include sessions on national data programmes and clinical audit, the management of cardiovascular disease in patients with cancer, and updates on emerging antithrombotic therapies.
Delegates will also hear from speakers working across Scotland's remote and rural communities, who will share innovative approaches to care and discuss the challenges of delivering services in diverse settings, including stroke care and the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists — prescription medications that mimic a natural gut hormone to lower blood sugar and reduce appetite — in the Western Isles.
The Scottish Lipid Forum programme will address important questions in lipid care, including the role of lipid management in older adults and where lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a) currently fits within clinical practice.
Speakers announced so far include Professor Jesse Dawson, Professor of Stroke Medicine, University of Glasgow, and Consultant Physician, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; and Professor Ninian Lang, Professor of Cardiology and Cardio-Oncology, University of Glasgow.
Also presenting are Professor Brian Kennon, Clinical Lead CVD Prevention Programme, and Consultant Diabetologist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; and Ms Laura Robertson, Clinical Nurse Specialist Lipids, Royal Free London NHS Trust.
SHARP is a heart charity that aims to reduce cardiovascular disease through healthcare research and educational initiatives, while SLF is a group of health care professionals with an interest in lipids, cardiovascular risk, and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
SHARP trustee, NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Cardiovascular Champion, and Head of the Centre for Cardiovascular Health, Edinburgh Napier University, Lis Neubeck, said: “With this exciting return to Crieff, we believe a dynamic programme across two inspiring days is in store, including presentations from leading experts, valuable networking opportunities, and cutting-edge research insights.
“Interested parties are urged to register and guarantee their place for what we consider to be a key opportunity in the calendar to share vital learnings and contribute to the ongoing efforts to combat cardiovascular disease in Scotland. We hope you can join us for an engaging, informative event.”
Professor Catriona Jennings, Honorary Professor at the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health in Galway, will bring a major European perspective on cardiovascular prevention to this year’s SHARP & Scottish Lipid Forum Annual Meeting.
Professor Jennings has been instrumental in driving EUROASPIRE across Europe, working to document the gap between guideline recommendations and what patients receive in everyday cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation. At the SHARP meeting, she will share insights from this work and consider what Scotland can learn from experience across Europe.
She will be joined by Professor David Wood of the University of Galway, who founded the EUROASPIRE surveys 30 years ago and was recently honoured with the prestigious ESC President’s Award for his lifetime contribution to cardiovascular prevention.
Professor Wood will also present in Scotland at the NHS Research Scotland Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Renal, and Metabolic (CVRM) Symposium event, bringing together researchers and academics to explore better collaboration across specialties in tackling multimorbidity.
Their involvement reflects the ambition of the SHARP & Scottish Lipid Forum Annual Meeting to connect Scottish cardiovascular practice and research with leading international expertise, and to turn the latest evidence into better prevention and care.
Professor Wood said: “I’m looking forward to hearing about fresh developments and breakthrough thinking from Scotland and beyond, helping to inform more universal research goals.
“It is important that we share ideas beyond borders. Preventive action by the whole multidisciplinary team can be a major driver of improved outcomes.”
Publication date: 23rd September 2026
