Global Heart Hub's Unite Annual Summit puts patient leadership at the centre of cardiovascular health
The sixth annual gathering brings the global cardiovascular patient community and partners together in Dublin to explore how lived experience can shape research, care, innovation and policy
Dublin, Ireland, 3 NOVEMBER 2026 – Over 200 patient organisations, advocates and cardiovascular stakeholders from around the world came together at Global Heart Hub’s 6th Unite Annual Summit to explore how people with lived experience can have greater influence over the decisions that affect their health.
Convened in Dublin on 1–3 November 2026, the Summit focused on From Patient Engagement to Patient Leadership Across the Cardiovascular Health Landscape, with plenary discussions and interactive sessions on 2–3 November.
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organization estimates 19.8 million deaths in 2022 or approximately 32% of all deaths worldwide.
Patient expertise needs a meaningful role in decisions
The programme opened with a keynote from Kwanele Asante, Patient Partner at PxP Africa. Sessions explored how patient narratives and experience data can inform research, how patients can help shape clinical trials and treatment access, and how cardiovascular services can better reflect people's needs.
An interactive panel co-hosted with The George Institute for Global Health examined trust and empathy in cardiovascular care. Further discussions addressed patient partnership in regulatory approval and health technology assessment.
“Patient organisations understand where care falls short and what matters to the people using it. Unite brings that expertise together with partners to work out how patient leadership can become part of everyday decision-making.”
Neil Johnson, Executive Director, Global Heart Hub
Working towards a shared commitment
A central aim of Unite 2026 is to build community commitment on the principles and practical approaches needed to support patient leadership across cardiovascular research, care, innovation and policy.
Three priorities guide this work: involving the patient community while questions and options are still open; providing the roles, resources and support needed to participate; and showing how patient evidence informs decisions.
The programme also examined barriers to participation, including compensation for patient expertise, representation and diversity, conflicts of interest and engagement fatigue.
"Patients need clear roles, support and opportunities to influence decisions. Partners also need to explain how they have used that contribution. That feedback is an important part of building trust and making participation worthwhile."
Manjusha Chatterjee, Head of Programs & Development, Global Heart Hub
Taking the work beyond Dublin
Continued collaboration and shared learning can help patient organisations and partners put these approaches into practice and sustain them over time.
The call of the global cardiovascular patient community is clear: to make patient leadership a standard of practice across research, policy and care, giving people living with cardiovascular disease the opportunity and support to turn their knowledge into changes that improve lives.
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About Unite Annual Summit
Unite Annual Summit is Global Heart Hub’s annual gathering of the global cardiovascular patient community and partners, offering an opportunity to connect, share experiences and explore shared priorities in cardiovascular health.
About Global Heart Hub
Global Heart Hub is the global alliance of heart patient organisations, working to unite and empower patient communities and ensure their voices and expertise inform policies, health systems, research and care.
Media contact
Global Heart Hub Communications
Reference
World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases fact sheet, 31 July 2025.
