Brain-Heart Interconnectome (BHI) State of the Science Summit

On June 8-10, the Brain-Heart Interconnectome (BHI) will host its 2nd biennial State of the Science Summit that will bring together leading researchers, trainees, and partners to explore advances in integrated brain-heart research. 

The 2026 summit will focus on Brain-Heart Health Across the Lifespan and explore the full spectrum of brain-heart research – from discovery to clinical applications and health system transformations. 

• Day 1, Pre-Clinical Research & Therapeutics, examines the biological foundations of brain-heart disease, from developmental origins and molecular pathways. 
• Day 2, Diagnostics, Clinical Research & Precision Medicine, explores how research discoveries translate into better treatments and care, with a focus on the intersection of cardiovascular and mental health. 
• Day 3, Population Health, Equity & Models of Care, brings implementation science and population-level evidence to the forefront, examining how we design and deliver brain-heart interventions that reach the people who need them. 

Join us to:

Connect with internationally recognized researchers whose work is transforming how we understand, diagnose, and treat interconnected brain–heart conditions.

Empower the next generation of researchers through dedicated opportunities, including:

• Featured talks by 2025 BHI Summer School Alumni
• Trainee rapid fire presentations
• Awards recognizing excellence in rapid fire and poster presentations (Submit your abstract here!)

Participate in interactive workshops to explore the BHI mentorship program and learn how integrating BHI Crosscutters can strengthen brain–heart research and real world impact. 

Thank you to our sponsors:

Gold level:

• McGill University
• The University of Ottawa Heart Institute
• Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation
• Ontario Brain Institute
• University of Saskatchewan

Silver Level:

• The Royal
• The University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute
• Yellowbird Diagnostics

Bronze Level:

Special thanks: DoubleTree by Hilton, Ottawa Downtown.

Interested in sponsoring this event? Click here.

Workshops

BHI Mentorship Panel & Networking Mixer: Lessons from BHI Co-Scientific Directors, Mentors & Mentees, June 8, 2026

This session explores what exceptional mentorship looks like through an open conversation with BHI Co‑Scientific Leads Drs. Peter Liu and Ruth Slack, who share personal stories, lessons learned, and diverse mentorship approaches. Their discussion leads into an interactive Q&A about mentorship across disciplines and career stages, followed by the official launch of the BHI Mentorship Program, which introduces tools for goal‑setting, matching, and progress tracking. The event concludes with a networking mixer that offers attendees the chance to build meaningful connections and potentially find their next mentor or mentee.  This session is open to all summit attendees.   

• Panel: Mariane Bertagnolli, Peter Liu, Augusto Montezano, & Ruth Slack
• Discussants: Rebecca Lloyd & Catalina Belalcazar
• BHI Networking Mixer: all keynotes, speakers, cross-cutting leads & attendees welcome

Workshop registration required.

From Integrating to Impacting: Advancing Brain-Heart Research Through Crosscutter Integration, June 9, 2026

To deepen shared understanding, capacity, and momentum around integrating the BHI cross-cutters and how they function as interconnected enablers to rigorous, equitable, and impactful brain–heart research. This will be done by highlighting concrete examples of successful cross-cutter implementation and creating space for collective reflection, learning, and actioning how to enhance application of the crosscutter enablers in your research or role in brain-heart research.

Workshop registration required.

Open Science Bootcamp for Health Research, June 11, 2026