On 12 October 2026, the Mardyke Pavilion, UCC will bring together researchers, clinicians, public health professionals, policymakers and community partners for Challenging Health Inequalities in Cardiovascular Risk: Bridging the Gap Between Research, Policy and Practice.
This important event will provide an opportunity to share evidence and experience across sectors, explore collaborative solutions and build new connections around the most pressing challenges in cardiovascular prevention. Cardiovascular risk does not exist in isolation. The conditions in which people live, grow, work and access services can have a profound influence on health outcomes.
With contributions spanning public health, epidemiology, health psychology, cardiology, community development and health promotion, the programme is designed to explore cardiovascular health through a broader public health and life-course lens, considering the upstream determinants of health, food systems, nutrition policy, socioeconomic inequalities, commercial determinants of health and the translation of research into policy and practice.
The event brings together an impressive multidisciplinary speaker faculty from University College Cork, the HSE and community organisations, reflecting the breadth of expertise required to tackle health inequalities. The cardiovascular perspective throughout the event will be strengthened by Prof John William (Bill) McEvoy, Medical and Research Director of NIPC and Co-chair of the European Society of Cardiology’s 2028 Prevention Guidelines, as he shares his significant expertise in cardiovascular prevention.
A key strength of this event is its focus on bridging the gap between research, policy and practice.
Generating evidence is only part of the challenge. The real opportunity lies in understanding how that evidence can inform policy, shape healthier environments, strengthen prevention strategies and support communities to achieve better health outcomes. By bringing different perspectives together in one room, the event aims to move beyond discussion and towards collaboration, practical solutions and new opportunities for partnership.
Challenging Health Inequalities in Cardiovascular Risk: Bridging the Gap Between Research, Policy and Practice
Monday, 12 October 2026
9.15am – 2.00pm
Mardyke Pavilion, University College Cork