AHA BCVS OnDemand 2026

Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026

Fundamental & Translational Cardiovascular Research

Explore cutting-edge discoveries in cardiovascular biology and translational medicine with AHA BCVS OnDemand 2026, the recorded educational program from the American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026.

The original BCVS Scientific Sessions were held July 13–16, 2026, at the Sheraton Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, under the theme:

Shaping the Future of Cardiovascular Medicine: Integrating Basic Science Breakthroughs to Clinical Impact

BCVS is one of the American Heart Association’s major scientific meetings devoted specifically to fundamental and translational cardiovascular science.

The 2026 program explores emerging mechanisms and therapeutic strategies across:

• Heart failure
• Cardiomyopathy
• Cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling
• Cardiovascular fibrosis
• Cardio-immunology
• Cardio-metabolism
• Atherosclerosis
• Myocarditis
• Cardiac development
• Congenital heart disease
• Gene regulation
• Gene therapy
• CRISPR-based therapeutics
• Cardiac repair and regeneration
• Tissue engineering
• Biomaterials
• Cardiac organoids
• iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
• Arrhythmia mechanisms
• Cardiovascular metabolism
• Mitochondrial biology
• Cell signaling
• RNA biology
• Molecular therapeutics
• Inter-organ cardiovascular signaling

The official BCVS OnDemand 2026 program provides access to 15+ scientific sessions, allowing learners to revisit major research presentations from the 2026 meeting.

Course Details

• Course: BCVS OnDemand 2026
• Full Event: Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026
• Provider: American Heart Association – AHA
• Year: 2026
• Meeting Dates: July 13–16, 2026
• Venue: Sheraton Boston
• Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
• Format: OnDemand Scientific Sessions
• Sessions: 15+ Sessions
• Primary Specialty: Cardiovascular Science / Cardiology
• Focus: Basic & Translational Cardiovascular Research
• Official OnDemand Launch: July 18, 2026
• Official BCVS OnDemand CE Credits: None
• Language: English

What Is BCVS?

BCVS stands for:

Basic Cardiovascular Sciences

The American Heart Association describes BCVS Scientific Sessions as one of the largest meetings dedicated to fundamental and translational research in cardiovascular science.

Unlike a conventional clinical cardiology board-review course, BCVS focuses heavily on:

• Molecular mechanisms
• Cellular biology
• Genetics
• Immunology
• Metabolism
• Bioengineering
• Regenerative medicine
• Experimental therapeutics
• Translational science

The overall pathway is:

Basic Discovery → Disease Mechanism → Experimental Model → Therapeutic Target → Translational Application

Why BCVS Is Different From a Clinical Cardiology Conference

BCVS focuses on understanding:

Why cardiovascular disease develops at the cellular and molecular level

and:

How those mechanisms can be translated into new treatments.

The program therefore connects:

• Molecular scientists
• Cardiovascular researchers
• Physician-scientists
• Engineers
• Geneticists
• Immunologists
• Cardiologists
• Translational investigators

2026 Program Theme

Shaping the Future of Cardiovascular Medicine

Integrating Basic Science Breakthroughs to Clinical Impact

The 2026 program emphasizes the movement of scientific discoveries from:

Laboratory Biology → Mechanistic Understanding → Translational Technology → Potential Clinical Therapy

This approach is reflected across sessions involving:

• Gene regulation
• RNA therapeutics
• Immune mechanisms
• Fibrosis
• Cardiac regeneration
• Biomaterials
• CRISPR
• Organoids
• Metabolism
• Precision therapeutic targeting

CARDIAC SARCOMERES & MYOFILAMENTS

One of the major BCVS 2026 sessions focuses on:

Cardiac Sarcomeres and Myofilaments

The sarcomere is the fundamental contractile unit of cardiac muscle.

The program explores molecular mechanisms involving:

• Titin
• Myosin-binding protein C
• Cross-bridge mechanics
• Passive myocardial tension
• Sarcomere regulation
• Cardiomyopathy

Titin & Cardiac Function

Titin is a giant sarcomeric protein with important roles in:

• Myocardial elasticity
• Passive tension
• Structural organization
• Cardiac function

BCVS 2026 examines how alterations in titin-related mechanisms can affect myocardial structure and function.

Molecular Regulation of Sarcomere Function

Abnormal sarcomere biology contributes to multiple cardiomyopathies.

Understanding these mechanisms can provide new opportunities for:

• Disease classification
• Therapeutic targeting
• Precision cardiovascular medicine

HEART FAILURE & CARDIOMYOPATHY

Molecular Targets for Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy

The program includes a dedicated session exploring potential molecular targets in:

• Heart failure
• Cardiomyopathy
• HFpEF
• Right heart failure

Obesity & HFpEF

The 2026 program examines the relationship between:

Severe Obesity + Sarcomere Biology + HFpEF

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is increasingly recognized as a biologically heterogeneous syndrome involving:

• Metabolism
• Inflammation
• Vascular dysfunction
• Myocardial remodeling
• Comorbid disease

Pulmonary Hypertension & Right Heart Failure

Right ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension represent another important area of contemporary cardiovascular investigation.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying right-heart adaptation and failure can support development of future therapeutic targets.

CARDIAC GROWTH, HYPERTROPHY & REMODELING

The program includes a dedicated session on:

Cardiac Growth, Hypertrophy and Remodeling

Topics include:

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Cardiac growth signaling
• Myocardial remodeling
• RNA processing
• Epigenetic regulation

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

The BCVS program examines hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from a mechanistic perspective.

Research may explore:

• Sarcomeric disease
• Gene regulation
• Cell signaling
• Remodeling
• Disease progression

RNA Splicing in Cardiomyopathy

The 2026 program includes investigation of a new RNA-splicing pathway in congenital cardiomyopathy.

This reflects the growing role of:

• RNA biology
• Post-transcriptional regulation
• Molecular therapeutics

in cardiovascular science.

CARDIOVASCULAR FIBROSIS

What’s New in Cardiovascular Fibrosis

BCVS 2026 includes a major session devoted to the mechanisms driving cardiovascular fibrosis.

Topics include:

• Fibroblast activation
• Cardiac fibrosis
• Pressure-overload remodeling
• Chromatin remodeling
• Sex differences
• RNA modification

Fibroblast Biology

Cardiac fibroblasts play important roles in:

• Extracellular matrix production
• Tissue repair
• Fibrotic remodeling
• Heart failure progression

Understanding fibroblast heterogeneity is becoming increasingly important in cardiovascular research.

Chromatin Remodeling in Fibrosis

Epigenetic mechanisms can influence fibroblast activation.

The program explores how chromatin regulation may contribute to pathological remodeling and potentially provide therapeutic targets.

Sex Differences in Cardiac Fibrosis

The 2026 curriculum also addresses sex-specific differences in cardiac fibrosis.

This reflects the growing recognition that biological sex can influence:

• Disease mechanisms
• Remodeling
• Therapeutic response

Keynote: Treating Cardiac Fibrosis with mRNA and CAR T Cells

A major BCVS 2026 keynote explores:

Treating Cardiac Fibrosis with mRNA and CAR T Cells

This illustrates how concepts originating in:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• RNA medicine

may be adapted to cardiovascular disease.

CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT & CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Cardiovascular Development, Gene Regulation and Congenital Heart Disease

The curriculum examines mechanisms involved in embryonic and fetal heart development.

Topics include:

• Gene regulation
• Ventricular development
• Cardiomyocyte signaling
• Congenital cardiomyopathy
• Congenital heart disease

RBFOX2 & Congenital Heart Disease

The program explores mechanisms associated with RBFOX2 haploinsufficiency and congenital cardiac disease.

This represents the intersection between:

Genetics → RNA Regulation → Cardiac Development → Congenital Disease

Cell-to-Cell Communication During Cardiac Development

Cardiac morphogenesis requires coordinated communication among developing cells.

Understanding these developmental signals may help explain:

• Congenital malformations
• Cardiomyopathies
• Abnormal ventricular development

Human Fetal Heart Development

BCVS 2026 also includes research examining:

Spatiotemporal mechanisms of ventricular chamber development in human fetal hearts

highlighting the increasing use of:

• Spatial biology
• Molecular mapping
• Developmental genomics

CARDIAC REPAIR, BIOMATERIALS & TISSUE ENGINEERING

One of the strongest translational sections is:

Cardiac Repair, Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

Organ-on-Chip Models

The program examines:

Organ-on-Chip Modeling of Heart Disease

These platforms can provide experimentally controlled models of:

• Cardiac physiology
• Disease mechanisms
• Drug response
• Tissue interactions

3-D Bioprinting

BCVS 2026 includes work on:

FRESH 3-D Bioprinting of Functional Cardiac Pumps

This represents the intersection of:

• Biomedical engineering
• Biomaterials
• Cardiovascular physiology
• Regenerative medicine

iPSC Cardiomyocytes

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes are increasingly used for:

• Disease modeling
• Drug testing
• Genetic studies
• Regenerative research

The program includes research investigating strategies to reduce arrhythmia in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.

Cardiac Regeneration

The curriculum explores cardiomyocyte populations with potential roles in heart regeneration.

Regenerative research seeks to understand whether injured myocardium can be:

• Repaired
• Replaced
• Reprogrammed

more effectively after injury.

EMERGING CARDIOVASCULAR TRANSLATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES

BCVS 2026 includes a dedicated session on:

Emerging Cardiovascular Translational Technologies

Smart Drug Delivery

The program explores:

Engineering Smart Delivery Systems for Cardiovascular Therapeutics

An effective cardiovascular therapeutic may require not only the correct molecule but also:

• Correct target
• Correct tissue
• Correct timing
• Appropriate delivery system

Human Cardiac Organoids

Human cardiac organoids are being developed as translational platforms for:

• Disease modeling
• Developmental biology
• Drug testing
• Personalized research

They provide a bridge between conventional cell culture and more complex human tissue systems.

CRISPRa in Cardiac Disease

The program includes:

Transcriptional Rewiring as Therapy: CRISPRa in Cardiac Disease

CRISPR activation technologies are being investigated as methods to modulate gene expression without necessarily introducing conventional gene replacement.

Targeted Cardiovascular Therapeutics

Another research direction involves identifying chamber-specific cardiac markers for therapeutic targeting.

Precision targeting may eventually help improve:

• Drug delivery
• Gene therapy
• Tissue specificity
• Therapeutic safety

CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA

Unlocking New Mechanisms in Cardiac Arrhythmia

BCVS 2026 contains a major mechanistic session devoted to cardiac rhythm disorders.

Immune-Electrical Crosstalk

One presentation explores:

How Cardiac Inflammation Shapes Arrhythmia Mechanisms

This highlights the emerging connection between:

• Immunology
• Inflammation
• Electrophysiology
• Arrhythmogenesis

Neural Mechanisms of Ventricular Arrhythmias

The autonomic nervous system has important effects on cardiac electrical stability.

BCVS examines new neural mechanisms underlying:

• Ventricular arrhythmia
• Electrical instability
• Cardiac autonomic regulation

Cardiac Radiation Therapy & Arrhythmia

Another innovative area explores cardiac radiation therapy as a potential mechanism for modifying arrhythmogenic substrates.

This is an emerging experimental and translational area rather than routine conventional arrhythmia therapy.

LMNA & Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

The program also examines how LMNA mutations can drive:

• Electromechanical remodeling
• Arrhythmogenicity

using human iPSC-derived cardiac microtissues.

CARDIO-IMMUNOLOGY

Inflammation, Immunity and the Heart

Cardio-immunology is one of the major research themes of BCVS 2026.

Topics include:

• Atherosclerosis
• Myocarditis
• Macrophages
• T-cell activation
• Clonal hematopoiesis
• Immune checkpoint inhibitors
• Cardiac injury
• Heart failure

Inflammation & Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is increasingly understood as both:

Lipid Disease + Chronic Inflammatory Disease

The 2026 program includes an update on inflammatory mechanisms in atherosclerosis.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Myocarditis

Cancer immunotherapy has introduced new cardiovascular complications.

BCVS examines:

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Myocarditis

from immune dysregulation through precision cardio-oncology concepts.

Clonal Hematopoiesis

Clonal hematopoiesis has emerged as an important link between:

• Aging
• Hematology
• Inflammation
• Cardiovascular disease

The program explores how genetic mutations and lifestyle factors may modify these relationships.

CARDIO-IMMUNOLOGY + CARDIO-METABOLISM

The 2026 scientific program also included a specialized pre-conference symposium examining how immune and metabolic pathways interact.

Topics included:

• Myocarditis
• Inflammation
• Fibrosis
• Heart failure
• Atherosclerosis
• Immune-cell imaging
• T-cell activation
• Macrophages
• Mitochondrial biology
• Immunometabolism

Macrophages in Heart Failure

Macrophages may contribute to both:

• Injury
• Repair

depending on disease context and cellular phenotype.

Understanding macrophage biology is an important area for future heart-failure therapies.

Metabolic Regulation of Immunity

The cardiovascular system is strongly influenced by interactions between:

Metabolism + Mitochondria + Innate Immunity

These pathways are increasingly investigated as therapeutic targets after cardiac injury.

THE AGE OF METABOLISM

BCVS 2026 includes a dedicated session titled:

The Age of Metabolism

BCAA Metabolism & Longevity

Research into branched-chain amino acid metabolism may provide new insights into:

• Healthy aging
• Cardiovascular metabolism
• Metabolic intervention

Cardiac Energy Metabolism

The failing heart undergoes significant metabolic remodeling.

The course explores pathways affecting:

• Energy production
• Lipid utilization
• Mitochondrial function
• Contractile performance

Mitochondria & Lipid Droplets

Interactions between mitochondria and lipid droplets influence:

• Lipid storage
• Lipid utilization
• Cellular energetics

and may be relevant to metabolic cardiac disease.

One-Carbon Metabolism

BCVS also includes research into one-carbon metabolism abnormalities in human failing hearts.

This represents another example of how metabolic pathways can influence cardiovascular disease.

CARDIAC CELLULAR SIGNALING

Mechanisms and Crosstalk

The 2026 program includes a major session addressing:

• HDAC signaling
• Mitochondrial signaling
• Hippo signaling
• RNA biology
• Cardiometabolic disease
• HFpEF
• Ischemic heart failure

HDAC Signaling

Histone deacetylase signaling is one mechanism through which cellular responses can influence:

• Gene expression
• Cardiac remodeling
• Cardiometabolic disease

Mitochondria in HFpEF

The program examines how mitochondria may orchestrate tissue remodeling in HFpEF.

This connects:

• Energy biology
• Cellular signaling
• Remodeling
• Heart failure

Hippo Signaling

Hippo signaling is involved in:

• Cell growth
• Regeneration
• Tissue homeostasis

and is being investigated as a potential therapeutic target in ischemic heart failure.

RNA Therapeutics

Engineered RNA technologies are another important research theme.

The program includes experimental work involving engineered small nuclear RNAs in cardiomyocytes.

SYSTEMIC AXES BEYOND THE HEART

Cardiovascular disease does not occur in isolation.

BCVS 2026 concludes with research addressing interactions between the heart and other organ systems.

Skeletal Muscle–Heart Crosstalk

Exercise influences cardiovascular health partly through systemic signaling.

The program explores skeletal muscle as a mediator of inter-organ communication in:

• Exercise
• Aging
• Obesity

Adrenal–Heart Crosstalk

The program also examines post-transcriptional regulation of:

Adrenal–Heart Crosstalk in HFpEF

highlighting endocrine mechanisms beyond the myocardium itself.

Placental Cell Biology

Research into multipotent cells from the human placenta illustrates how developmental and regenerative biology can contribute to cardiovascular research.

Circular RNA & Cardiac Repair

Circular RNAs represent another rapidly developing area of molecular biology.

BCVS examines how these molecules may regulate macrophage-mediated cardiac repair.

EARLY CAREER CARDIOVASCULAR SCIENCE

BCVS has a strong emphasis on developing the next generation of cardiovascular investigators.

The meeting includes:

• Early-career research
• Oral abstracts
• Poster presentations
• Investigator awards
• Mentorship
• Career development
• Research funding discussions
• Scientific networking

From Bench to Business

The 2026 program also includes discussions about moving discoveries from academic research toward:

• Biotechnology
• Pharmaceutical development
• Entrepreneurship
• Venture investment
• Therapeutic commercialization

This provides a translational pathway from:

Discovery → Validation → Intellectual Property → Development → Medicine

Major Topics Covered

• Basic Cardiovascular Sciences
• Translational Cardiovascular Research
• Cardiovascular Biology
• Molecular Cardiology
• Heart Failure
• HFpEF
• Cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Cardiac Remodeling
• Cardiac Hypertrophy
• Cardiac Fibrosis
• Sarcomere Biology
• Titin
• Cardio-Immunology
• Cardiovascular Inflammation
• Myocarditis
• Atherosclerosis
• Clonal Hematopoiesis
• Cardio-Metabolism
• Mitochondrial Biology
• Cardiac Metabolism
• Cardiac Development
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Gene Regulation
• RNA Biology
• CRISPR
• Gene Therapy
• Cardiac Repair
• Cardiac Regeneration
• Biomaterials
• Tissue Engineering
• Cardiac Organoids
• iPSC Cardiomyocytes
• 3-D Bioprinting
• Cardiac Arrhythmia
• Electrophysiology
• Molecular Therapeutics
• Inter-Organ Crosstalk

Who Should Take This Program?

BCVS OnDemand 2026 is particularly relevant for:

• Basic Cardiovascular Scientists
• Cardiovascular Researchers
• Cardiologists
• Cardiovascular Physician-Scientists
• Cardiovascular Surgeons involved in translational research
• Molecular Biologists
• Cellular Biologists
• Physiologists
• Translational Investigators
• Immunologists
• Geneticists
• Genomic Researchers
• Electrophysiologists
• Endocrine / Metabolic Researchers
• Biomedical Engineers
• Tissue Engineers
• Stem Cell Researchers
• Pharmacologists
• Cardiovascular Fellows
• PhD Students
• Postdoctoral Researchers
• Early-Career Investigators

Why This Program Is Useful

AHA BCVS OnDemand 2026 provides a concentrated view of the mechanisms and technologies likely to influence future cardiovascular therapies.

Learners can review:

• Molecular heart-failure mechanisms
• Sarcomere biology
• Fibrosis
• Immunology
• Cardiovascular metabolism
• Cardiac development
• Genetics
• RNA biology
• Cardiac repair
• Biomaterials
• Tissue engineering
• Organoids
• iPS cells
• CRISPR technologies
• Arrhythmia mechanisms
• Precision therapeutic targeting
• Inter-organ cardiovascular biology

The overall scientific pathway is:

Mechanism → Model → Target → Technology → Translation

Official BCVS OnDemand 2026

The official American Heart Association OnDemand platform provides access to:

15+ BCVS 2026 scientific sessions

with platform capabilities including:

• Individual session selection
• Search and filtering
• AI-powered captions
• Session summaries
• Bookmarking
• Note-taking

The official BCVS OnDemand 2026 product launched on:

July 18, 2026

following the conclusion of the live scientific meeting.

Continuing Education Notice

This distinction is especially important for BCVS 2026.

Original Live BCVS Scientific Sessions

The original live activity was designated for up to:

17.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

for eligible physician participants completing applicable AHA requirements.

BCVS OnDemand 2026

The American Heart Association explicitly states that BCVS OnDemand 2026 is NOT accredited for Continuing Education credits.

Therefore:

BCVS OnDemand 2026 = No CE/CME Credits

Do not advertise an OnDemand product as:

• 17 CME Credits Included
• 17 AMA Credits OnDemand
• CE-Certified BCVS OnDemand
• AHA CME Included with OnDemand

The 17-credit designation applies to the original live educational activity, not to BCVS OnDemand 2026.

Product Summary

• Product: AHA BCVS OnDemand 2026
• Full Name: Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions OnDemand 2026
• Provider: American Heart Association
• Original Meeting: July 13–16, 2026
• Location: Boston, Massachusetts
• Venue: Sheraton Boston
• OnDemand Launch: July 18, 2026
• Sessions: 15+
• Focus: Basic & Translational Cardiovascular Science
• Official BCVS OnDemand CE/CME: None

4. Short Description

AHA BCVS OnDemand 2026 – Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions provides access to 15+ sessions covering cutting-edge fundamental and translational cardiovascular research.

Topics include heart failure, cardiomyopathy, sarcomere biology, cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling, cardiovascular fibrosis, cardio-immunology, inflammation, cardiac metabolism, congenital heart disease, gene regulation, cardiac repair, tissue engineering, organoids, iPSC cardiomyocytes, CRISPR, molecular therapeutics, cardiac arrhythmia, mitochondrial biology, and inter-organ signaling.

Topics

• BCVS 2026 Closing Remarks

• BCVS 2026 Keynote Lecture

• Cardiac Cellular Signaling Mechanisms and Cross talk

• Cardiac Growth Hypertrophy and Remodeling

• Cardiac Repair Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

• Cardiac Sarcomeres and Myofilaments

• Cardio-Immunology Inflammation Immunity and the Heart

• Cardiovascular Development Gene Regulation and Congenital Heart Disease

• Early Career Keynote

• Early Career Pre-Conference Opening Welcome

• Early Career Pre-Conference Session 1 Next Best Thing

• Early Career Pre-Conference Session 2 Next Best Thing

• Emerging Cardiovascular Translational Technologies

• Molecular Targets for Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy

• Outstanding Early Career Investigator Award

• Pathophysiologic and Systemic Axes Beyond the Heart

• The Age of Metabolism

• Unlocking New Mechanisms in Cardiac Arrhythmia

• Whats New in Cardiovascular Fibrosis