Breakthrough Breakfast: Advancing Cardiovascular Research

Learn about the transformational medical research happening right here in the Maritimes. Designed to celebrate groundbreaking research and medical innovation, the Breakthrough Breakfast Series features distinguished researchers at the forefront of different fields of medical discovery. From cardiac research to cancer, immunology and vaccinology, family medicine, neuroscience and brain health, and youth mental health, the series spans a diverse spectrum of crucial medical research topics. Each event will include researchers, graduate students, patients, or community members who have contributed to or benefited from this research. Join us for the next Breakthrough Breakfast, which will showcase the groundbreaking cardiovascular research being led by four Dalhousie researchers, highlighting how their work is helping us better understand the heart, prevent disease, and improve treatment for dangerous heart conditions. This engaging morning event will take place on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, from 7:30–9:00 a.m. at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Hosted by Dr. Eileen Denovan-Wright, Associate Dean of Research. Speakers will include: Dr. Alex Quinn — Understanding dangerous heart rhythms and exploring how the heart’s electrical and mechanical systems interact to better understand what causes dangerous arrhythmias and identify new opportunities for prevention. Dr. Leah Cahill — Preventing heart disease before it starts. Investigating how nutrition, biology, and lifestyle can be combined through precision medicine to personalize cardiovascular disease prevention and support healthier aging. Dr. Ratika Parkash — Finding better ways to keep hearts in rhythm. Researching improved approaches to treating atrial fibrillation and determining when procedures, medications and prevention strategies are most effective for individual patients. Dr. John Sapp — Transforming the treatment of dangerous heart rhythms and conducting landmark clinical research that is helping reshape the treatment of life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms and improve outcomes for patients.