ASCEPT-Hypertension Australia Joint Scientific Meeting Wrap

This year, our Annual Scientific Meeting was held as a joint conference between ASCEPT and Hypertension Australia at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 9–12 December 2025. What a wonderful meeting it was! With overwhelmingly positive feedback from members of both organisations.

In total, we welcomed 412 delegates and received 217 abstract submissions, with 90 selected for oral presentations and 140 presented as posters. The program featured 9 keynote presentations, 9 workshops, 12 symposia, and 3 lunchtime workshops. The quality of presentations was outstanding throughout, spanning a broad scientific spectrum from fundamental mechanisms to clinical applications and evidence synthesis. A special shoutout to our junior members who contributed magnificently to all aspects of the program, and all our keynote speakers for their outstanding presentations.

The British Pharmacological Society Keynote was presented by Professor Jeanette Woolard from the University of Nottingham (left), pictured with ASCEPT President A/Professor Bridin Murnion.

ASCEPT President A/Professor Bridin Murnion (R) with Opening Keynote presenter Professor Arduino Mangoni from Flinders University.

Photographer extraordinaire Dr Ian Musgrave taking time out from behind the camera to present his research from The University of Adelaide during one of the poster sessions.

Hypertension Australia and ASCEPT Presidents Markus Schlaich (L) and Bridin Murnion (R) sharing a glass of sparkling at the National Wine Centre Meeting Dinner, sponsored by Moderna.

To further promote the outstanding work of our student members, this year’s meeting saw the introduction of a new format for the SIG poster finalists, inspired by our collaboration with Hypertension Australia. Finalists for the Neville Percy and Robert Whelan prizes delivered short flash talks instead of traditional poster presentations on the final morning of the conference. Despite having less than a day’s notice, the students rose to the challenge and delivered concise, high-quality presentations. Congratulations to all award winners!

It was fantastic to connect with our Hypertension Australia colleagues, and we loved seeing a variety of joint initiatives come to life, including the career development workshop, EDI workshop, and the Consumer and Community Involvement in Hypertension and Pharmacology symposium. Delegate engagement with the vibrant trade exhibition was also fantastic to see.

2025 ASCEPT-Hypertension Australia Joint Scientific Meeting co-chairs Dr Quynh Dinh and Dr Luke Grundy highlight the generous meeting sponsors.

Our extraordinary Secretariat and Conference Organisers from Expert Events (L-R): Jessica Guild, Barbara Lawless & Georgia O’Keefe.

Professor Nick Buckley introducing an outstanding Closing Keynote from A/Professor Christophe Stove from Ghent University.

The conference dinner, held at the National Wine Centre of Australia, was a highlight as always, with excellent food, great company, and an electric dance floor filled with ECRs and senior researchers alike!

We sincerely thank the organising committee for their tireless efforts over the past year, particularly Expert Events for the seamless delivery of the meeting, and the ASCEPT and Hypertension Australia executives for their expert guidance. We are also grateful to our generous sponsors for their support, and to all delegates for making this a meeting to remember!

Meeting Co-Chairs – Dr Luke Grundy and Dr Quynh Nhu Dinh