Dr Figueiredo Galvao is a post-doctoral research officer at the Center for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research at La Trobe University. Her work investigates the role of immune-mediated inflammation in the development of hypertension. She uses a range of pharmacological interventions, genetically modified mice and next generation single-cell transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing to expand the current knowledge in her field.

Buddhila Wickramasinghe is a final-year PhD candidate in the Hypertension and Diabetes division at the Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Her research focuses on understanding the role of the immune system in hypertension and chronic kidney disease by utilizing various animal models and in vitro methods. As she continues to develop her research profile, she has presented her work at both national and international conferences, including the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia ASM and International Society of Hypertension Scientific Sessions. In addition to her research, Buddhila advocates for HDR students as the student representative for the Cardiovascular SIG of ASCEPT. She is also dedicated to promoting STEM education and inspiring the next generation of scientists by engaging with primary and high school students.

Mitra Esfandiarei, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Midwestern University and a Research Professor in the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona. She is also an Affiliated Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, & Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia. Her research centers on cardiovascular pathophysiology, with a particular focus on vascular biology and the molecular mechanisms underlying aortic aneurysm development and progression. Dr. Esfandiarei’s work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, The Marfan Foundation, and other agencies. Her research program integrates experimental models, vascular imaging, and mechanistic studies to identify therapeutic targets and improve prevention strategies for genetic and acquired vascular diseases. An active mentor and academic leader, she has served as President of the Arizona Physiological Society and Program Coordinator for the Master of Biomedical Sciences Program at Midwestern University. She also contributes to the scientific community as an editorial board member for Nature Communications Biology, Scientific Reports, and Frontiers in Physiology, among others. Her work has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, invited lectures, and collaborations aimed at advancing understanding of vascular function, endothelial signaling, and sex-dependent mechanisms in cardiovascular disease.