Welcome Message

Yoshihide Mitani
President, The 61st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
Professor, Perinatal Care Center, Mie University Hospital

It is my great pleasure to announce that the 61st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery will be held at the Mie Center for the Arts in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, from July 10 to 12, 2025. I am deeply honored to have the privilege of organizing this prestigious and historically significant gathering. Allow me to briefly introduce some of the meeting’s highlights.

Theme of the Meeting:

The meeting’s theme is "Weaving the Future of Pediatric Cardiology and Healthcare: New Paradigm, Networking, and Inclusiveness for Children and Beyond." We aim to explore pediatric cardiology and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) from innovative perspectives, establish interdisciplinary networks, and promote patient-oriented, inclusive healthcare.

Program Overview:

Our program emphasizes five key areas: (1) cutting-edge research, (2) interdisciplinary collaboration between pediatricians, surgeons, and related healthcare professionals—a hallmark of our society, (3) joint sessions with both domestic and international societies, (4) educational initiatives for young physicians and specialists, and (5) initiatives toward internationalization of JSPCCS. The comprehensive scientific agenda includes five special lectures (two domestic, three international), 40 symposia, panels, and committee-organized sessions (38 domestic, two international), two international debate sessions, six joint sessions (three international: AHA, AEPC, TSPC; three domestic: Japanese College of Cardiology, Japanese Heart Rhythm Society, Japanese Society of Hepatology & Japanese Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease), the AEPC Young Investigator Award session (3AEPC and 3 JSPCCS speakers), 14 traditional special sessions, 217 invited and designated speakers (including 43 domestic non-members and 23 international), and approximately 700 submitted abstracts (including 17 international submissions). I would extend sincere gratitude to our members and committees for their enthusiastic participation and contributions. Despite a tight schedule, we eagerly anticipate an intellectually stimulating and rewarding conference.

The venue includes five halls (Halls 1–5) dedicated to special lectures, symposia, panels, and committee sessions, two halls (Halls 6–7) for general oral presentations, and a designated area for poster sessions (five to six sessions). To foster international engagement and technological integration, we have opened international abstract submissions and requested selected presentations in English or in Japanese with English slides. English-to-English and Japanese-to-English captioning will be available in Halls 1, 2, and 6. Recognizing possible schedule conflicts, special sessions in Halls 1–5 will also be available for on-demand viewing after the conference.

Special Program Highlights:

Our special lectures feature distinguished invited speakers, including Prof. Marlene Rabinovitch from Stanford University, who will deliver a legendary lecture drawing from her experiences in Boston, Toronto, and Stanford. Prof. Maurice Beghetti from the University of Geneva will present pediatric pulmonary hypertension guidelines from the 2024 WSPH, accompanied by a debate session on treat & repair strategies for CHD-PAH. Prof. Fumiaki Ikeno from Stanford University will address medical entrepreneurship and startup ecosystems, leading into a subsequent industry-academia-government collaborative session. Prof. Ryuji Hamamoto from the National Cancer Center, President of the Japanese Association for Medical Artificial Intelligence, will present clinical AI applications from research design to regulatory approval. Additionally, Mr. Narihiro Suzuki, CEO of Ise Kadoya Brewery, will deliver a lecture titled “From Ise to the World, from Tree Sap to Table,” sharing his journey from academic research to launching a craft beer enterprise and achieving global expansion.

Presidential sessions include Symposium 1, aligned with our meeting’s theme, featuring representatives from patient advocacy groups, the Japanese government’s Children and Family Agency, JSPCCS and ICT and venture enterprises. Symposium 2 will highlight advances in pediatric pulmonary hypertension research, presented by Prof. Rabinovitch in the keynote. Symposium 3 (international) on pediatric ECG screening and digitalization features a keynote by Prof. Salim F. Idriss (Duke University) alongside AEPC President Prof. Nico Blom and Asian experts, complemented by a related committee session on success stories. Symposium 4 (international) features Prof. Pei-Ni Jone (Northwestern University) discussing recent guidelines for Kawasaki disease treatment with Asian experts, followed by a debate session. Panels address transitional care in pediatric-onset acquired heart disease, long-term outcomes of bPAB in severe CHD, and future perspectives of JSPCCS clinics and research from internationally active Japanese physicians (Professors Tsuda, Kobayashi, Ito, Sasaki, and Gu).

JSPCCS-sponsored sessions encompass 19 symposia and panel discussions on diverse topics, including Japan’s contributions to Kawasaki disease research, standard treatments for pediatric arrhythmias, perioperative complications in cardiac surgery, limitations in the indication for heart transplantation, regenerative medicine and pluripotent stem cell research, current TPVI practice, fetal echocardiographic screening challenges, pediatric pulmonary hypertension and various vascular disorders, surgical RVOTR and lifelong management for TOF, ACHD patient self-care skills, community living for CHD patients with multiple disabilities, multidisciplinary awareness and education for Fontan management, pediatric cardiology career paths, pediatric cardiorenal interactions, timing of interventions for pediatric lifestyle diseases, research funding strategies, right heart failure in ACHD, the transmission of masterclass surgical expertise, and surgical interventions for optimal pulmonary circulation. Additionally, 14 committee-led sessions will cover topics such as the "Inochi no Jigyo (Life Project)," digital transformation in school heart screening (including a lecture on PMH ), family support, JSPCCS board sessions, HBD for children, biological monitor alarms, surgical interventions in trisomy 18 patients, workstyle reform, catheter treatments for CoA, the 2026 medical fee revision, generative AI in scientific writing, research committee updates, regionalization of cardiac surgery centers, and clinical trial implementation.

Joint sessions include international collaborations with the AHA, featuring a keynote lecture by Prof. Antonio Cabrera from Ohio University, representing Young Hearts, along with two invited lectures on surgical intervention for severe pediatric heart failure; AEPC on multidisciplinary management of CHD-related infective endocarditis, featuring two invited speakers, and TSPC on systemic RV management, with an invited speaker. Domestic sessions will explore secondary cardiomyopathy with JCC, non-pharmacological arrhythmia treatments with JHRS, and a new FALD guideline with JSACHD & Japanese society of hepatology. Furthermore, 14 additional special sessions are planned, including five satellite symposia on the first evening, essential medical ethics and safety lectures for specialists, commemorative lectures associated with specimen exhibitions for postgraduate education, a 3-hour basic course educational seminar on the third day, and a public lecture on cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Participation Information:

Tsu City, Mie Pref, offers convenient access, located approximately 50 minutes from Nagoya, 80 minutes from Osaka Namba by express train, and 45 minutes by high-speed ferry from Chubu Centrair International Airport. We recommend planning dinner gatherings following satellite meetings on the first day. The members' reception on the second evening will be held at Green Park Tsu, featuring local cuisine and beverages. Attendees are recommended to extend their visit to explore Ise Jingu Shrine, Okage Yokocho, Oharaimachi, and the scenic Ise-Shima region. Please regularly check our official website and social media channels for the latest updates on the program, shuttle bus service, and events. We anticipate engaging discussions and enjoyable networking opportunities and look forward to welcoming all participants to Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, Japan.