AtheroTalk

E34: Zanfina Ademi 02.06.2026 31min

What does it take to turn scientific evidence into healthcare policy that improves lives? In this AtheroTalk episode, we sit down with Prof. Zanfina Ademi, a leading health economist at Monash University, to explore how health economics shapes modern cardiovascular prevention. From the development of Productivity-Adjusted Life Years (PALYs) to the global push for lipoprotein(a) testing, Prof. Ademi shares insights from her remarkable career at the intersection of science, policy, and public health. Join us for an inspiring conversation about innovation, impact, and the future of cardiovascular care.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Azin KheirkhahInterviewer: Azin Kheirkhah

E33: Raul Santos 19.05.2026 39min

This episode of AtheroTalk features Prof. Raul Santos from Brazil, reflecting on his journey in cardiovascular medicine and his impact on the field of lipidology. The discussion covers advances in familial hypercholesterolemia, LDL lowering, and emerging therapies like Lp(a), alongside the real-world challenges of prevention across different regions. Combining scientific insight with personal perspective, it’s an engaging and thoughtful conversation with a clear message: stay curious, keep pushing forward, and “go after your dreams”.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Pelin GolforoushInterviewer: Pelin Golforoush

E32: Pablo Corral 05.05.2026 27min

What does it take to build a career at the intersection of clinical care, research, and global collaboration? In this episode of AtheroTalk, we speak with Prof. Pablo Corral from Argentina, who brings a grounded and insightful perspective on lipid disorders, cardiovascular prevention, and the evolving role of large-scale clinical trials.From tackling familial hypercholesterolemia to addressing residual risk, he shares both the realities and possibilities of advancing care in Latin America. Along the way, he reflects on mentorship, career choices, and what truly sustains long-term motivation, captured in one simple idea: “Find something you are truly passionate about.”A thoughtful conversation for anyone navigating science, medicine, and purpose.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Pelin GolforoushInterviewer: Pelin Golforoush

E31: Rory Collins 21.04.2026 51min

In this episode, Prof. Rory Collins shares the personal moments that shaped his career and pulls back the curtain on UK Biobank: how it really works, the tough calls, and the surprises along the way. As more of us rely on UKB for our research, this candid conversation is a must-listen for anyone using the resource: the context, trade-offs, and behind-the-scenes details you don’t usually get.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Hana Bartuskova, Azin Kheirkhah, Elena Rodriguez-SanchezInterviewer: Alexandr Ceasovschih, Azin Kheirkhah

E30: Magdalena Daccord 07.04.2026 37min

This interview features Magdalena Daccord, CEO of FH Europe Foundation, discussing key challenges and future directions in the management of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The conversation focuses on patient advocacy, early diagnosis, and the importance of international collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. Special attention is given to emerging initiatives, including the Lp(a) International Task Force, and the role of patient networks in improving awareness and access to care.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Maria Cherska, Azin Kheirkhah, Svetlana StoicaInterviewer: Maria Cherska, Svetlana Stoica

E29: John J.P. Kastelein 19.03.2026 36min

In this episode of AtheroTalk, we are honored to host Prof. John J.P. Kastelein, one of the most influential figures in lipidology and cardiovascular prevention. With a career spanning decades of groundbreaking research and innovation, Prof. Kastelein shares his personal journey and reflects on the evolution of lipid-lowering therapy — from the early days of statins to today’s rapidly expanding pipeline of novel therapeutics. Together, we explore the milestones that have shaped modern cardiovascular prevention, the lessons learned along the way, and the exciting future of precision lipid management. This conversation offers unique insights into the intersection of science, clinical practice, and drug development, from someone who has been at the forefront of it all.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Fotis BarkasInterviewer: Fotis Barkas

E28: Rodrigo Alonso Karlezi 12.02.2026 35min

In this special global episode of AtheroTalk, the EAS Young Fellows move beyond their traditionally Europe-focused conversations to connect with Professor Rodrigo Alonso Karlezi in Chile, bringing a Latin American perspective to cardiovascular science. The discussion explores international advances in familial hypercholesterolaemia, and the power of international collaboration, while also addressing challenges faced in Latin America such as limited resources, differences in guidelines, and the need to build sustainable research networks. Reflecting on perseverance in global science, Prof. Karlezi reminds us that “no doesn’t mean ‘no’, it means ‘not yet’.”---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Pelin GolforoushInterviewer: Pelin Golforoush

E27: Gerald Watts 02.02.2026 35min

In this episode of AtheroTalk, we discuss with Prof. Gerald F. Watts, a leading world expert in the field of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) and Cardio-metabolic Medicine, about his professional journey, about national strategies and policies in FH and about how can young professionals achieve a successful career.Prof. Watts shares his insights about the process of adding clinical meaning into research projects, his mentors and overcoming challenges. He also shares ways to address gaps in care, a fresh perspective on cardiometabolic prevention, methods of thinking and ideas that help researchers keep their research relevant.Tune in and don’t miss the powerful motto that Prof. Watts has followed throughout his exceptional career – “discovery comes to the prepared mind”.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Laura Gaita, Maria Giovanna LupoInterviewer: Laura Gaita

E26: Göran K. Hansson 13.01.2026 20min

Our guest, Prof. Göran K. Hansson, has spent a lifetime advancing cardiovascular science while helping steward one of the world’s most prestigious scientific institutions. His work as a Professor at Karolinska Institutet and former Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, bridges discovery, leadership, and recognition.He reflects on his clinical and academic journey and opens a window into his long service on the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Alexandr Ceasovschih, Maria Cherska Interviewer: Alexandr Ceasovschih

E25: Ruth Frikke-Schmidt 22.12.2025 48min

In this episode of AtheroTalk, we talk with Prof. Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, a clinician and cardiovascular researcher, about curiosity, purpose, and growing into a life in science. She shares insights from her work on cardiovascular disease and genetics, and offers honest reflections on mentorship, setbacks, and balancing research with clinical work. It’s an inspiring listen for students and early-career researchers, ending with a piece of advice that’s both simple and powerful: “One thing at a time.”---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Pelin GolforoushInterviewer: Pelin Golforoush

E24: Frederick Raal 08.12.2025 19min

In this AtheroTalk episode, Prof. Frederick Raal - a distinguished Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand and one of the world’s leading experts in familial hypercholesterolemia - shares insights from his clinical and research journey.He discusses balancing clinical duties with leading one of the largest HoFH cohorts globally, highlighting the importance of mentorship, curiosity, and disciplined time management.Prof. Raal explains the expanding role of PCSK9 and ANGPTL3 inhibitors, emphasizing combination therapy as essential for HoFH.He reflects also on unanswered questions regarding long-term safety of PCSK9 inhibitors, the promise and challenges of gene-editing approaches, and the urgent need to improve global access to advanced lipid-lowering therapies.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Fotios BarkasInterviewer: Fotios Barkas

E23: Ron Blankstein 25.11.2025 22min

In this episode of AtheroTalk, Prof. Ron Blankstein, a leading expert in cardiovascular imaging and prevention, discusses his professional journey, the power of coronary artery calcium scoring, innovations in cardiac CT, and the future of cardiovascular risk prediction.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Tatyana StorozhenkoInterviewer: Tatyana Storozhenko

E22: Rohan Khera 11.11.2025 26min

In this episode of the AtheroTalk, we speak with Dr Rohan Khera from the Yale School of Medicine - a leading expert in big data and artificial intelligence, and their applications in cardiovascular medicine. Are you curious about digital phenotyping? Do you want to know which AI-powered tools are already in use or soon will be in clinical practice? Did you know that a simple ECG recording can reveal far more about the heart than just its electrophysiological properties?---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Azin Kheirkhah, Jan NovákInterviewer: Jan Novák

E21: 2025 Focused Update of the 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias 30.10.2025 31min

This episode explores the 2025 Focused Update of the 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidaemias, highlighting key changes in cardiovascular risk assessment, LDL-C targets, Lp(a) interpretation, and lipid-lowering strategies. Listeners gain practical insights into how these updates impact everyday clinical decision-making and the future of dyslipidaemia management.-------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Fotios Barkas, Maria Cherska Interviewer: Fotios Barkas, Maria Cherska

E20: Bart van de Sluis 20.10.2025 37min

We sit down with Prof. Bart van de Sluis, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Translational Biology at the University of Groningen (UMCG). His research unravels the molecular mechanisms that control lipid metabolism and endo-lysosomal cholesterol transport, key processes in cardiometabolic diseases such as fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis. Prof. van de Sluis leads a research group dedicated to understanding how receptor trafficking and inflammation are regulated, with a focus on the NF-κB signaling pathway. Using advanced cellular and mouse models, including CRISPR/Cas approaches, his team pushes the boundaries of molecular medicine. Beyond his research, he heads the Transgenic Mouse Clinic for Aging Research (CRISPR facility). Join us as we talk about his scientific journey, the challenges of translational research, and his vision for the future of molecular biology and cardiovascular science.-------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Hana Bartuskova, Maria Giovanna Lupo, Sanne Maas, Tatyana StorozhenkoInterviewer: Sanne Maas

E19: Michael Shapiro 03.10.2025 35min

This time, we interview Prof. Michael Shapiro, President of the American Association of Preventive Cardiology and Chair-Elect of the AHA Council on Lipidology, Lipoprotein, Metabolism & Thrombosis. We delve into his academic journey and explore his predictions for the future of our field.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Azin Kheirkhah, Svetlana Stoica, Tatyana StorozhenkoInterviewer: Svetlana Stoica

E18: EAS Paediatric Lipid Working Group 20.09.2025 44min

Tune in to this special FH Awareness Week episode of our podcast featuring Prof. Steve Humphries. In this conversation, he shares valuable insights into familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and introduces the newly established EAS Paediatric Lipid Working Group. He highlights the importance of early detection, collaboration, and awareness to improve care and outcomes for children living with inherited lipid disorders.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Hana Bartuskova, Joana Rita Chora, Laura Gaita, Azin KheirkhahInterviewer: Azin Kheirkhah

E17: EAS Consensus Statement on Systemic Metabolic Disorders 11.09.2025 31min

Rates of obesity and related metabolic disorders have risen dramatically worldwide, yet most treatment strategies still focus on individual conditions, missing the bigger picture. A new Consensus Statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society introduces a holistic, clinically actionable framework that reflects disease progression across three stages, from early metabolic changes to advanced organ damage.In this episode, we discuss this new staging system in detail in an interview with the lead author, and we also hear from two EAS Young Fellows who worked behind the scenes, offering unique insights that go beyond what is published in the manuscript.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Mariia Cherska, Azin Kheirkhah, Elena Rodriguez SanchezInterviewer: Azin Kheirkhah, Elena Rodriguez Sanchez

E16: Simon Pfisterer 16.07.2025 33min

In this episode, our guest is Dr Simon Pfisterer, group leader at the University of Helsinki and Chief Scientific Officer of Moncyte Ltd. His work bridges cutting-edge research and clinical application in dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular disease. We're talking about his academic journey, his move into biotech, and his vision for the future of precision medicine in atherosclerosis.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Joana Chora, Sanne Maas, Elena Rodriguez SanchezInterviewer: Sanne Maas

E15: Gemma Figtree 11.06.2025 37min

In this episode, a leading interventional cardiologist and pioneering researcher, Prof. Gemma Figtree brings a unique perspective at the intersection of clinical care, molecular science, and national health strategy. From her early academic journey to groundbreaking work, Prof. Figtree shares ideas that are as inspiring as they are impactful. Join us for a conversation that explores not only the science but also the passion, resilience, and vision at the frontlines of cardiology.---------------------------------------------------Script-prep: Elena Rodriguez Sanchez, Tatyana StorozhenkoInterviewer: Tatyana Storozhenko