On February 5-6, 2026, experts from across the globe will gather to advance the science of healing hearts at the 14th annual Utah Cardiac Recovery Symposium (U-CARS). The event brings together scientists and clinicians whose specialties span from bench to bedside, with the shared goal of helping hearts heal and recover in the wake of heart failure.

“This is one-of-a-kind conference which essentially functions as a ‘think tank’ where many cardiologists, surgeons, intensivists, anesthesiologists, ER physicians, nurses, pharmacists, research scientists, and many more converge to push forward the field of heart recovery,” says Stavros Drakos, MD, PhD, professor of cardiology and physiology at University of Utah Health and co-director of the symposium “By doing this we advance knowledge and reduce the devastating toll of heart failure.”

This year, U-CARS is excited to welcome keynote speaker Dean Y Li, MD, PhD, executive vice president of Merck Research Laboratories, to speak about how academia and industry can work together to advance medical science and improve care, as well as his own journey in both arenas. As a co-founder of multiple Utah-based biotech companies as well as a former chief scientific officer, associate vice president, and vice dean at U of U Health, Li is expertly positioned to discuss the connections between translational medical research in academia and industry.

Topics discussed will range from recovery from heart failure in pediatric cases, to heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support, to targeting specific heart cells to heal and repair the heart.

In addition to individual research presentations, the conference features multiple panel discussions, as well as poster presentations and time for attendees to interact informally. The intensely collaborative nature of the symposium is a unique strength, according to Drakos. 

“Bringing together research scientists and physicians creates unique opportunities for meaningful interactions and keeps the focus on applying research findings to meet unmet medical needs,” Drakos says. “This conference helps make that happen by bringing everyone together in the same room, in the same sessions!"